Got lucky on blown tire

[eddiepotts]

I went out to get the bus ready to take back to the storage lot Friday. I checked tire pressure and found the inner duel not registering air. I crawled under and found the sidewall blown out. If you notice that is a nail in the tire. The last drive I made was about 200 miles. I have no idea when the tire went but, I am glad I did not loose both tires. Keep in mind the pic of the tire makes them look really bad but they have about half tread still on them. I looked at the date code and they are 4yrs old.

I would like to ask can you plug a tire like you would on a car to get it to a repair facility or will it just blow out from the pressure? I do realize this tire is not a candidate for that but if I would have found the nail before I lost the sidewall.
Second I would like to know where is a good place in Houston to buy a Recap or used tire? It is a 315 80 22.5

[JackConrad]

I had a tire man tell me once that is what they call a "zipper" blowout and is caused by driving underinflated. Underinflation causes excessive sidewall flexing which weakens the sidewall.  Only difference is my "zipper" was a little longer. That was when I decided to install a PressurePro TPMS.  My concern was not only the tire that had to be replaced but the collateral damage that occurs when a blowout happens at crusing speed such as air lines, wheel wells, mufflers, radiators, etc.  Jack

[cody]

The inside dual is the hardest to check and is often the one that ignites the outside tire going down the road, a tire fire will really mess up your day and ruins the wax job on a coach.

[jackhartjr]

I plug truck tires all of the time!  I bought a heavy duty plug kit that won't break!  I make sure to use the rubber cement.
Have never had a problem.
Jack

[kyle4501]

It is important to know the history of your tires.
If a truck tire goes flat & over flexes the side wall (like a front tire going down overnight), it will suffer internal damage & also fail at unexpected times.

Plugging a tire is dangerous as you don't know where the pressurized air is sealed. When the tire structure exposed to the compressed air, you have a ticking time bomb. We won't wear out the tire within 5 years, so this matters more to us than it would to a trucker who is replacing tires almost yearly.
(Jack JR, Truckers have very different use requirements & time penalties for waiting for tire service. Just because you get away with it don't make it a safe practice tho . . . .)
The nail may have done damage to the tire structure, I've seen where a nail pushed wire cords inside the casing & it couldn't be patched.

Don't underestimate the stress bus tires are under.

[kyle4501]

BTW, in looking at the picture, it seems the tire was wearing a little differently at the shoulder near the rupture - looks like the casing was damaged (road debris ?) & it took a while to fail.

Hard to notice everything during the walk around . . . . Lots more to it than thumpin' tires.

[robertglines1]

good result--you saw pictures of my 98 that a tire fire can do----Try Bantag recaps my local dealer sells for 225 each your size..5 yr warranty...I run caps on drives and tags..going price for good used tire less than 5 yrs old 125 to 150 here ,make sure to match tread depth or circumference..

[eddiepotts]

Kyle yes it does have a little chop in them on the outsides of the tires. I tried to look up something on that wear pattern and all I found was the long haul tires do that. I have no idea why or what causes it. I just look at it as if that's just the way they wear.( thats my sothern slang it may be hard to read )

Robert I did see the pics and no I do not want a tire fire. I did call one place and the wanted $250 for a used tire. They had a recap at another store and told me he had to get it out of the store soon so he would make me a deal. $380 included them coming to the house and changing it. Just the comment on he had to get rid of it soon lifted my eyebrow at it. If it has to get off his shelf soon I don't think I need it either. What do I know. First time for me dealing with a tire.

[robertglines1]

try different tire shops..someone there keeps big trucks runnin..truck salvage yards also...I don't buy used over 5 yrs old...the prices I quoted are local and current...

[luvrbus]

Eddie, there is tire shop on Texas Ave that does the recaps, new and used tires forgot the name but will find it for you I know they have good  prices all the Mexican tour buses buy there lol

[gus]

If you have a good emergency road service contract the tire you can find the tire and have the road service come to your bus.

This is an emergency because it is hazardous to drive the bus on only one tire, never mind the chance of a fire in the blown tire.

You really lucked out on this one, but you know that already!!

[eddiepotts]

Gus you hit it on the head.Digging through my wallet Friday I found an rv roadhelp card. I forgot I bought it when I had my S&S. What I forgot was I set it up on auto draft with the credit card so I have had them for a couple of years. I called them today and they said they would cover it as long as I had the tire. Infact they said they cover all my cars and motorcycle. It is $100 annually. So I think I have a connection for some good priced tires but I have to drive to Austin to get it. Looks like it is all good for me

[gus]

Eddie,

Good to see you are well on the way to resolving your tire problem.

Let us know how it all turns out.

What road service do you have?

We have Good Sam and the only time we have had to use the emergency part was when the wife's car quit on her. Coverage of all family vehicles is worth the cost even without the bus coverage. 

I've used the service information part of GS a couple of times when I knew the problem and needed service or parts but the bus was not disabled.

[Bill B /bus]

I vote for a TPMS.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System. It will save your coach from a low pressure tire. Not a blowout. Plus it will cover the toad tire.

Yah, I know not cheap but less than the cost of two tires not counting damage from shredded tire.

Good luck with the tire change.
Bill

[gus]

After owning my bus I finally bought a monitor, best thing I ever did.

I bought it when it was on sale at CW, sure hated to part with all that $$ but it is worth every penny.

No more crawling around trying to find the inside dual, no more doing same in rain, cold or heat.

After she got a nail in one front tire recently I'm even thinking about springing for one for the wife's car.

It is even fun looking at it!