Lil Foot
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
Sorry in advance for the long read.
I tow more than most folks, so I speak from some experience. (I am fanatic about tire pressures & loads) When I bought my 5th wheel, (2003 32ft Sandpiper Toyhauler, purchased new) I was crawling around under it, and found all five tires (Carlisles) had a crack all the way around the tire on the inside sidewall, showing cords. The factory replaced them all under warranty, no cost. On a trip 5000miles later, one blew out causing extensive damage to the trailer. Put the spare on, and headed home. 500 miles later, a second one blew out, thankfully at low speed, no damage. (7 miles from home) Tire dealer waranteed all five tires, gave me 5 "new generation" Carlisles, no charge. About 5000miles later, a guy stopped me in a campground, telling me I had a badly bent rim. Turns out the rim was fine, but an 8-10" section of the tread had moved about 1 1/2" toward to outside of the tire. I put the spare on, deflated the ticking bomb tire, and drove home.
Dealer warranteed all five again, but I demanded no Carlisles. For an up charge, he sold me top of the line Michelins. I also put a set of Michelins on the truck at the same time. Some time later, I had a blowout on the truck, causing extensive damage. Soon after, I had a blowout on the trailer again, no damage. They warranteed both sets again, with prorate charge, and I put "3rd generation" Michelins on both truck and trailer. You guessed it, another blowout on the truck, (little damage) and a blowout on the trailer. (little damage)
At this point, Michelin sent out an investigator who checked tire pressures, individual weights at each tire on truck & trailer, pin weight, alignments, shocks, brakes, wheel bearings, & springs, all with the truck & trailer loaded to max payloads. (which I never do) He also checked all my tire gauges. He even approved my parking arrangements- parked on unfinished 2x12s, with covers on the tires.
He concluded I was well within load limits (by almost 50%) and that my problems must all be related to AZ heat.
He off the record admitted that Michelin was extremely upset & embarrassed by their heavy truck/trailer tire performance, and was beginning a research project to correct the problems.
I have since used Bridgestones, Yokohamas, & Pirellis on truck & trailer with no problems whatsoever.
I have used several sets of Michelins on several cars, with no problems, but I don't think they knew how to make heavy truck/trailer tires.
While on a trip, we were in Kentucky and lost two tires on the truck from road debris, and went to replace the whole set. We were informed that the dealer only had Michelins to fit my truck, and explained the these were "5th generation" design. We reluctantly bought them, and they have been flawless so far, are wearing like iron, and are great in snow & water.
Fingers crossed, I think Michelin has it figured out.
I tow more than most folks, so I speak from some experience. (I am fanatic about tire pressures & loads) When I bought my 5th wheel, (2003 32ft Sandpiper Toyhauler, purchased new) I was crawling around under it, and found all five tires (Carlisles) had a crack all the way around the tire on the inside sidewall, showing cords. The factory replaced them all under warranty, no cost. On a trip 5000miles later, one blew out causing extensive damage to the trailer. Put the spare on, and headed home. 500 miles later, a second one blew out, thankfully at low speed, no damage. (7 miles from home) Tire dealer waranteed all five tires, gave me 5 "new generation" Carlisles, no charge. About 5000miles later, a guy stopped me in a campground, telling me I had a badly bent rim. Turns out the rim was fine, but an 8-10" section of the tread had moved about 1 1/2" toward to outside of the tire. I put the spare on, deflated the ticking bomb tire, and drove home.
Dealer warranteed all five again, but I demanded no Carlisles. For an up charge, he sold me top of the line Michelins. I also put a set of Michelins on the truck at the same time. Some time later, I had a blowout on the truck, causing extensive damage. Soon after, I had a blowout on the trailer again, no damage. They warranteed both sets again, with prorate charge, and I put "3rd generation" Michelins on both truck and trailer. You guessed it, another blowout on the truck, (little damage) and a blowout on the trailer. (little damage)
At this point, Michelin sent out an investigator who checked tire pressures, individual weights at each tire on truck & trailer, pin weight, alignments, shocks, brakes, wheel bearings, & springs, all with the truck & trailer loaded to max payloads. (which I never do) He also checked all my tire gauges. He even approved my parking arrangements- parked on unfinished 2x12s, with covers on the tires.
He concluded I was well within load limits (by almost 50%) and that my problems must all be related to AZ heat.
He off the record admitted that Michelin was extremely upset & embarrassed by their heavy truck/trailer tire performance, and was beginning a research project to correct the problems.
I have since used Bridgestones, Yokohamas, & Pirellis on truck & trailer with no problems whatsoever.
I have used several sets of Michelins on several cars, with no problems, but I don't think they knew how to make heavy truck/trailer tires.
While on a trip, we were in Kentucky and lost two tires on the truck from road debris, and went to replace the whole set. We were informed that the dealer only had Michelins to fit my truck, and explained the these were "5th generation" design. We reluctantly bought them, and they have been flawless so far, are wearing like iron, and are great in snow & water.
Fingers crossed, I think Michelin has it figured out.
