On July 1,1998, I was travelling on the express lanes of the 401 freeway in
Toronto (12 lane roadway with four three lane sections ) at a little over
60 mph when the five year old tire by the door blew. I managed to get off
and changed it with the help of my wife. I am disabled with Muscular
Dystrphy and use a wheelchair but cheat with three quarter inch sockets and
five foot long cheater bars when I have to. It was a little dangerous
because there must have been 200 semis passing us at 60+ mph with 2 feet of
clearance. The old coach was rocking on the jack and threatning to crush us
against the guard rail but there was no where else to go.
I had never hit anything including a curb with this tire. I kept it inflated
at 70 to 80 psi at all times.
I put 20 something thousand miles on the tires. This one was scrubbed due to
the arm being a little out of line when I bought the coach. It was worn 50%
on the outside two inches. I have since replaced the arm. I also noticed
that there were cracks in the tire on the inside of the groves that the tire
runs on. I checked and two other tires had the same cracks right down to the
steel. It hadn't blown out from one of these cracks. Where the tire blew out
was on the running surface (tread) near the edge. It wasn't a big hole but
after that running to get off the road the tread started to peel off. They
do get hot.
I usually use my coach for a month spring and fall; otherwise, it sits. When
storing it I drop the rear on blocks letting the air out of the bags and put
blocks under the front crossmember to reduce the weight on all the tires. I
keep them covered when not running.
When it was installed (a set of six new in fall of 93 at Goshen GMCMHI
rally) I had a vibration which balancing didn't take out. When I put the
spare on I didn't have the vibration anymore. I think there was a fault in
the tire from day one. I have replaced three of the six originals. The tread
isn't worn but they crack to the steel between the tread groves which they
tell me is dangerous because the steel will then rust and let go.
I think they are a strong tire but I am not satisfied with how they stand
up. I guess on a delivery truck running everday you could get your money out
of them. The 9:50's aren't available now from Goodyear so I am now trying
the Japanese tires. I can't think of the name but they seem to run well. I
have had Michelins blow out and zipper as well so I am not a Michelin man.
On two different cars over a ten year period the Michelin steel belts have
shifted as well.
One thing I think every GMC owner should consider is the new powder
balancing rather than weights. They drop a premeasured amount of this
balancing powder in the tire when mounting it. It moves around in the tire
to balance as you run. I still run steel wheels but this system seems to
work far better than the lead weights. I don't have that place at 65 mph
where I used to have to get through to get it smoothed out. They seem to be
in balance right through to 90mph. EOM
Toronto (12 lane roadway with four three lane sections ) at a little over
60 mph when the five year old tire by the door blew. I managed to get off
and changed it with the help of my wife. I am disabled with Muscular
Dystrphy and use a wheelchair but cheat with three quarter inch sockets and
five foot long cheater bars when I have to. It was a little dangerous
because there must have been 200 semis passing us at 60+ mph with 2 feet of
clearance. The old coach was rocking on the jack and threatning to crush us
against the guard rail but there was no where else to go.
I had never hit anything including a curb with this tire. I kept it inflated
at 70 to 80 psi at all times.
I put 20 something thousand miles on the tires. This one was scrubbed due to
the arm being a little out of line when I bought the coach. It was worn 50%
on the outside two inches. I have since replaced the arm. I also noticed
that there were cracks in the tire on the inside of the groves that the tire
runs on. I checked and two other tires had the same cracks right down to the
steel. It hadn't blown out from one of these cracks. Where the tire blew out
was on the running surface (tread) near the edge. It wasn't a big hole but
after that running to get off the road the tread started to peel off. They
do get hot.
I usually use my coach for a month spring and fall; otherwise, it sits. When
storing it I drop the rear on blocks letting the air out of the bags and put
blocks under the front crossmember to reduce the weight on all the tires. I
keep them covered when not running.
When it was installed (a set of six new in fall of 93 at Goshen GMCMHI
rally) I had a vibration which balancing didn't take out. When I put the
spare on I didn't have the vibration anymore. I think there was a fault in
the tire from day one. I have replaced three of the six originals. The tread
isn't worn but they crack to the steel between the tread groves which they
tell me is dangerous because the steel will then rust and let go.
I think they are a strong tire but I am not satisfied with how they stand
up. I guess on a delivery truck running everday you could get your money out
of them. The 9:50's aren't available now from Goodyear so I am now trying
the Japanese tires. I can't think of the name but they seem to run well. I
have had Michelins blow out and zipper as well so I am not a Michelin man.
On two different cars over a ten year period the Michelin steel belts have
shifted as well.
One thing I think every GMC owner should consider is the new powder
balancing rather than weights. They drop a premeasured amount of this
balancing powder in the tire when mounting it. It moves around in the tire
to balance as you run. I still run steel wheels but this system seems to
work far better than the lead weights. I don't have that place at 65 mph
where I used to have to get through to get it smoothed out. They seem to be
in balance right through to 90mph. EOM
