r-pod Nation Homepage R-Pod Travel Trailers At Jeff Couchs RV Nation
Forum Home Forum Home > Forest River r-pod > Maintenance Issues, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Blown Tires
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Blown Tires

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
0ttr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Aug 2016
Status: Offline
Points: 5
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Blown Tires
    Posted: 21 Jul 2019 at 2:10am
So I guess I made myself the poster child of what not to do.  

I am on a long trip to the Rockies.  I got about 300 miles and a tire blew.   This took out the fender immediately.  Then I discovered two things:  my tow vehicle jack wouldn't work and while I had the right wrench for the lug nuts, the socket i have was too shallow for the nuts on the mount for the spare.   So I called a tow truck since insurance would cover it.   Got switched and on my way.   I thought that at the end of the day I would go and replace the other tire.     

Well, the 2nd one blew.   So now the rpod is on the side of the highway as it was too late in the day to do anything about it and I'm getting it sorted out in the morning.  And yes, it took out the other fender.

These were six year old tires.   I knew they were getting a bit older, but I had inspected them and they looked perfect--no cracking or any other evidence of aging.  I had literally checked their pressure earlier in the day and they were fine.    

I'm just grateful that there was no wreck and that it appears that there's no other damage.  I'm glad I put the riser kit on it a couple years back.

I look online and some places say 5 years and others 5-7 for tire life.   In any case, just a friendly "learn from my mistake moment".   If your tires are 5 years old or older and look perfect, well, that means nothing.   Replace them.

Fortunately, replacements are affordable.

Back to Top
Kingskerswell View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 02 Oct 2018
Location: Kelowna BC
Status: Offline
Points: 141
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kingskerswell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jul 2019 at 2:35am
Never a good experience, the the scary thing is the unpredictable results.   I know as I have had a couple of blow outs on a previous TT, not both sides though.  Good quality tires become a necessity on a single axle configuration.  Just curious what tires you have on your Rpod.
Back to Top
0ttr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Aug 2016
Status: Offline
Points: 5
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jul 2019 at 11:58am
They were the factory tires.   I didn't get the brand.  
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2017
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 239
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mcarter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jul 2019 at 5:42pm
Many of us updated tires ASAP, if you have a newer Pod or an HRE may not be necessary.  Mine came with 14" C rates, I went with D rated Carlisle's.  Other brands are available, but at a minimum a 14" should be D rated.
Mike Carter
2015 178
Back to Top
0ttr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Aug 2016
Status: Offline
Points: 5
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jul 2019 at 1:05am
My 2013 177 came with R14s.   That's what they were replaced with.   I know about C & D ratings, but the R was on both the tire and the sticker.    
Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2017
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 239
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mcarter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jul 2019 at 3:38am
R doesn't mean anything to me.  The Load rating should be D preferably.
Mike Carter
2015 178
Back to Top
0ttr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 01 Aug 2016
Status: Offline
Points: 5
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 0ttr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 1:32am
I looked into this further.   The tire on the sticker is ST175R14C.     The C at the end is the load rating.   What confused me is that some tires don't have the R.   I found an ST175D14 at one point.   So I guess the R is radial and the C is the load bearing rating.   

As far as whether or not I should have gotten D tires, when I have a disabled trailer abandoned in the side of the road on a Sunday morning, at that point, I was simply grateful to find someone with the tire on the sticker.  

I plan to just simply swap them out after five years regardless of their appearance.   

I don't load the trailer that heavily when I use it.   I do, however, take it on long trips all over the West.   

Back to Top
mcarter View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2017
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 239
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mcarter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 7:39am
Yes the R is for Radial.  I can only tell you the D rates were one of the best improvements to my pod.
Mike Carter
2015 178
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.0
Copyright ©2001-2014 Web Wiz Ltd.