Tire Blow up

[funinthesnow]

Soooooo We were on our way home and one of the tires blew up!!!!! Thankfully we caught it right away and we were only going 45. Otherwise that was going to be ugly. The whole side of the tire came away from the tread like someone peeled it off. Very strange. No damage to the rig or the wheel. Has there been any issues with the tires they are putting on these rigs?

 

[TucsonJim]

There have been very few reported problems with the Westlake tires. Were you running with a TPMS system?

 

[funinthesnow]

No we do not have a TPMS. We do check our tires before trips.

 

[steve gravelle]

Agree with Jim- TPMS is something we wouldn't be without! I know you are a responsible owner, but the TPMS is a CONTINUOUS check of pressure and temperature- not just before your trip. It may not have alerted you in this regrettable instance, but I think our odds are better to avoid catastrophic damage. We use a TST 507 with flow-through sensors- geat unit and customer service.

 

[Abqscott]

I think it has been my best piece of mind purchase for our Solitude, as well as the least expensive.

 

[JCR GD]

Funinthesnow,

please describe what happened in this other thread if you can/will. It is always good to know details as to what may be the cause. Thanks


http://www.granddesignowners.com/forum/showthread.php/4408-Time-for-a-Westlake-tire-update?


Also did you end up replacing one or all?

 

[Navigator-MGRV]

A few weeks ago we had a tire lose just the tread and the tread tore up the side and underneath of "Tudee". We've always relied on our TPMS but since the tire never deflated it never gave a warning. Discovered the damage after pulling into a rest stop. That was enough of a warning to get rid of the Westlake tires for us and we replaced them when we got to Indiana.

 

[teamam]

Do you have any recommendations on a TPMS

 

[TucsonJim]

Here is the monitor we use:

http://tsttruck.com/product/tst-507-flow-thru/

Jim

 

[LCBoyer]

I've used the same as Jim for a couple years. Very satisfied

 

[Abqscott]

Yep!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[gr8daggett]

TST all the way

 

[offtohavasu]

Put me on the list for TST as well.

 

[C130TN]

I use the Tireminder with the booster and I'm very happy with it. I think the TST is excellent also, either one of the two would definitely be my choice. I couldn't decide so chose the Tiremibder only because I liked the display better. Now I need two more sensors since I'm gong from two axles to three with the 385.

 

[rspradling]

We have just purchased a 337rls. And I have always in the past immediately replaced any ST tires with LT tires, due too many blow outs.

I am looking to replace these westlake ST's now however do not see a size matching the 235-80-16 in LT tire.

Have any of you replaced the ST's with LT's if so what size did you go to?

Thanks,

Roy

 

[C130TN]

We have just purchased a 337rls. And I have always in the past immediately replaced any ST tires with LT tires, due too many blow outs.

I am looking to replace these westlake ST's now however do not see a size matching the 235-80-16 in LT tire.

Have any of you replaced the ST's with LT's if so what size did you go to?

Thanks,

Roy

I pick up my 385 next week and started a thread about tire replacement in the Momentum section discussing this topic. I put Michelin XPS RIBS on my previous Fuzion toy hauler. They were 238/85/16 and replaced the 235/80/16 OEM tires I believe. As of now, my plan is to do the same on the 385 but may not do it immediately but definitely within a year.

The issue to some on the XPS RIB is they have less load capacity. This is a whole other topic and usually leads in to lots of disagreements. But, I'll take actual results and personal experience over some number stamped on the side of a tire. I've yet to hear from anyone that switched to an LT tire regret it. Out of every tire discussed it seems the XPS RIB has the fewest complaints by far. But again, the capacity is less than the axle rating. I sure wish they'd make the RIB in a higher capacity.

There are a lot of Hotshot haulers around the Houston area. I was told if I wanted the absolute best tire on my toy hauler I should put the XPS RIBS on it. I asked about the capacity and was told to buy what I wanted but he installs the RIBS on most all of the heavy trailers because the drivers use the ones that give the least trouble and least blowouts. I've yet to hear from anyone using the XPS RIBS switch to any other tire.

 

[TucsonJim]

I've heard really good things about XPS ribs also. But you're right, they have quite a bit less load capacity than the Westlake tires. The ST235/80R16 Westlakes have 3,520 pounds of load capacity. The LT235/85R16 Michelin XPS Ribs have a 3,042# load capacity. That really concerned me until I remembered that the axle weight rating is 6,000 pounds on my 337. If the load was equally distributed on both tires, I'd have 6,084 pounds of tire load capacity on my 6,000# axles. That's cutting it close, but I am no where near the max weight on the coach, so I'm not too worried about it.

One interesting tidbit about the Westlake tires that I'd never noticed before. They have a speed rating of "L" which is 75 mph. This is actually stamped on the side of the tires. I'd always assumed they were limited at 65 mph like 95% of the ST tires out there.

Jim

 

[Scott and Jan]

Jim, where did you find the "L" speed rating on the tire exactly. I've looked all over my tires for a speed rating letter after reading other threads on here, and can't find it.

 

[steve gravelle]

When I got 4 Westlakes comped by Grand Design for our 337, they have a date code of 0315, last #s on tire serial #, they also have logos stating max speed of 75 mph.