Ro646a wrote: I just went through this. I had put a new set of Michelin tires on our RV in July of 09. The DOT codes were 3 weeks old at the time I bought them. Last August (at 26 months old) the tires were already cracking in a 1/2" wide area all around each of the tires.
I took the tires to the Michelin dealer, sent pictures to Michelin, and spoke to the Michelin rep. on the phone. They did nothing to help me.
I take excellent care of all of my stuff, including my tires. I also kept them covered.
We recently bought a different motorhome with 10 year old Goodyears on it that still looked like new, just as the 10 year old Goodyears on our former motrhome looked when we bought it. I bought new tires again, but this time I didn't buy Michelins.
I am really disappointed to read your post because I hoped by replacing the Goodyears I was unhappy with, with Michelins would be a good thing. The Goodyears we replaced were just under 6 years old. When they removed the rear tires, on the inside of two of the dual tires, where you can't see of course, there were cracks large enough to put my ring finger into. They couldn't believe we didn't have a blow out. These tires were well cared for AFTER we bought the rig new but they sat on a dealer lot for well over 1 year with likely no care. We weigh our coach every year. If we travel with 100 gallons of fresh water on board we are about 750 pounds over on the rear axle but we very, very rarely travel that full or for more than 100 miles if we do have the fresh water full.
Is it possible, I'm just asking here, that being overweight or having tires not rated for the load, be part of why different owners have good and bad experiences with both Goodyears and Michelins? Or is it just a bad day at the factory when some of the tires are made? I just can't understand why there doesn't seem to be a clear winner when it comes to tire brand for motorhomes.
Dave & Kathy
2007 Monaco Knight 40PDQ towing 2003 Odyssey
Fulltime since October 2007
Before you give someone a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what will be left.
I had the crackes in my 4 year old (3 years to me) 22.5 Michilin tires inspected by a Michilin truck tire dealer. He said they need to be replaced. He called Michilin " RV section" and my tires were replaced under warranty with Michilin picking up a large share of the cost. Dealer told me "Boy they really take good care of you motor home owners".
Call Michilin and get to the "right" place and tell them your problems. They directed me to one of their dealers and I followed their instructions to a great outcome. For truck and RV tires you need to go to an authorized truck tire dealer-NOT YOUR LOCAL MICHILIN AUTO TIRE DEASLER.
Retired and loving it
Living in the Land of Enchantment
Traveling in 2007 Newmar KSDP
towing a Jeep Liberty
with a Blue Ox tow bar
imgoin4it wrote: I had the crackes in my 4 year old (3 years to me) 22.5 Michilin tires inspected by a Michilin truck tire dealer. He said they need to be replaced. He called Michilin " RV section" and my tires were replaced under warranty with Michilin picking up a large share of the cost. Dealer told me "Boy they really take good care of you motor home owners".
Call Michilin and get to the "right" place and tell them your problems. They directed me to one of their dealers and I followed their instructions to a great outcome. For truck and RV tires you need to go to an authorized truck tire dealer-NOT YOUR LOCAL MICHILIN AUTO TIRE DEASLER.
Actually, I did take my tires to a Michelin Truck tire dealer. The dealer was sympathic, but Michelin did nothing for me. I called the correct person at Michelin. It has been a while since I spoke to him, I think the man's name was Bill.
2001 Fleetwood Southwind 35R on 2000 Ford F53 Chassis
V10 310HP
Roadmaster Sterling All terrain tow bar
Ready Brake
2002 Chevy Tracker V6 4x4 SUV
Ro646a wrote: I just went through this. I had put a new set of Michelin tires on our RV in July of 09. The DOT codes were 3 weeks old at the time I bought them. Last August (at 26 months old) the tires were already cracking in a 1/2" wide area all around each of the tires.
I took the tires to the Michelin dealer, sent pictures to Michelin, and spoke to the Michelin rep. on the phone. They did nothing to help me.
I take excellent care of all of my stuff, including my tires. I also kept them covered.
We recently bought a different motorhome with 10 year old Goodyears on it that still looked like new, just as the 10 year old Goodyears on our former motrhome looked when we bought it. I bought new tires again, but this time I didn't buy Michelins.
I am really disappointed to read your post because I hoped by replacing the Goodyears I was unhappy with, with Michelins would be a good thing. The Goodyears we replaced were just under 6 years old. When they removed the rear tires, on the inside of two of the dual tires, where you can't see of course, there were cracks large enough to put my ring finger into. They couldn't believe we didn't have a blow out. These tires were well cared for AFTER we bought the rig new but they sat on a dealer lot for well over 1 year with likely no care. We weigh our coach every year. If we travel with 100 gallons of fresh water on board we are about 750 pounds over on the rear axle but we very, very rarely travel that full or for more than 100 miles if we do have the fresh water full.
Is it possible, I'm just asking here, that being overweight or having tires not rated for the load, be part of why different owners have good and bad experiences with both Goodyears and Michelins? Or is it just a bad day at the factory when some of the tires are made? I just can't understand why there doesn't seem to be a clear winner when it comes to tire brand for motorhomes.
The new tires I bought this time are Bridgestones, on the advice of the Truck tire dealer. I thought I was buying the best when I bought that set of Michelin's, until they started cracking.
Tires are like fuel mileage and RV insurance. Everyone is different. The coaches are all different, roads are different, yearly mileage is different, different inflation theories for each owner, different tire pressure checking intervals, and so the service life of your tires will be different.
When we had our Fifth Wheel the tires had checking. I was told it didn't matter.
When we lost all the tires within a short time it was easy to see that moisture had invaded these checks to the cords.
The tires were only three year old Goodyear LT tires.
One of them took out a section of skirting and damaged braces etc when it blew.
Current tires on MH are quite a bit older but show no checking or dry rubber etc but I'm checking them regularly and they are not in sunlight.
Great info here. I will check into the model of tire and take them directly to a michelin truck tire dealer before I hit the road. Last thing I need is a blowout, especially since this is my first class A.
Here is e code off the tires. Anyone know which model these are? FVEACM8X4608
I am 900 miles from the unit.
Thanks,
J
* This post was
edited 04/14/12 05:16pm by Jake21 *
I forgot to mention that the Michilin truck tire dealer must confirm to michilin that the cracks in the tire render it unsafe for highway use. If that is the case then based on how long you have had them and the amount of tread worn off, Michilin then determins how much they will pay towards the warranty. If the tire dealer says the tires ar OK to use you get nothing. I cannot imagine Michilin not responding if their dealer says the tires are unsafe withing 5 years of them being purchased new(not from the date manufactured, but the date you purchased). I have successfully had Michilin tires replaced under warrranty three different times.
My neighbor has Michelins that are "checking" like crazy. The guy at the tire store said that they were only safe to "drive to the tire store for new ones". Normally I would say that this guy was just trying to make a sale but, I wouldn't get them out on the interstate. Having had a blowout myself I can tell you that it's not like a passenger vehicle at all. It sounds like a grenade going off and usually does some damage to the RV. The damage, tow bill, and new tires will cost way more than new tires and, the years that you'll shave off your life and the shorts you will soil wont be worth it. If I have any question about tires I'm not taking it out on the road. I can't even imagine a front blowout, on the interstate with a toad..
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