TIRE BLOW OUT

[Getupngo]

Most car tires wear out before they age out. RV's tires on the other hand tend to age out before the tread wears out. Many people use an 8 year rule of thumb. They also tend to rot from the inside out.

This might help http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireLife.dos

How to read age http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

I was going to make the same point, but I was told that tires age out in six years, not eight. We had a pretty devastating RV accident in my area earlier this year. Because of this accident, I replaced my six-year-old tires before heading out this (last?) summer.

EDIT: Another note: I think tire pressure is as important as the age of a tire. I carry a quality tire-pressure gauge (not one of those cheap things with the stick that pokes out) that truck drivers use. I have a motor home with a generator, so I also carry a small 110-powered air compressor to air-up a low tire before I head out each morning. If I have a low tire or two, I don't want to have to search out a gas station with an air compressor and hope it is in a place that I can get in and out of while pulling my toad.

Also, in regard to the accident noted above, I wondered whether the rig was overloaded with people. Because I have a gasser, I have to be concerned about the carrying capacity of my rig.

[SoCalGalcas]

Thanks for posting the article about that horrible accident. I had read about it, but the paper didn't say what caused the accident. I suspect they might have been speeding also when the tire blew. And the rig was overloaded with people too.
Tragic way to end a trip. I too carry a small compressor. lyn

[MelissaD]

Most car tires wear out before they age out. RV's tires on the other hand tend to age out before the tread wears out. Many people use an 8 year rule of thumb. They also tend to rot from the inside out.

This might help http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireLife.dos

How to read age http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

I was going to make the same point, but I was told that tires age out in six years, not eight. We had a pretty devastating RV accident in my area earlier this year. Because of this accident, I replaced my six-year-old tires before heading out this (last?) summer.

EDIT: Another note: I think tire pressure is as important as the age of a tire. I carry a quality tire-pressure gauge (not one of those cheap things with the stick that pokes out) that truck drivers use. I have a motor home with a generator, so I also carry a small 110-powered air compressor to air-up a low tire before I head out each morning. If I have a low tire or two, I don't want to have to search out a gas station with an air compressor and hope it is in a place that I can get in and out of while pulling my toad.

Also, in regard to the accident noted above, I wondered whether the rig was overloaded with people. Because I have a gasser, I have to be concerned about the carrying capacity of my rig.

Some tire manufactures say 6 years and some say 10 years so the 8 is just an average. The point is just because they have tread does not mean they are good. Running a tire to fast, the standard "ST tires" found on trailers are rated at 65 mph not 80 - 100+ mph like car or truck tires, they build up heat in the sidewall and damage the tires. Running a tire on low air pressure does the same thing. Once this sidewall damage is done, it is done. The company I work for says a tire 10% low (90# instead of the rated 100#) is a flat and should be replaced.

Many people take tires for granted.