Thump Thump

I was returning home from a race in Sebring Florida and on I95 I suddenly heard a Thump Thump from the left front tire,I pulled over at the next exit and there was a blister on the inside of the front left tire about the size of my hand.This tire had a date of 28 week of 2005 and it had 40,000 miles on it I also know that while I have owned it it has never been run low on air pressure since I use the pressure pro tire monitoring sensors,but it could have been run low prior to my purchase of the coach.I could not find a 365 tire but as Prevost wants I put the tag 365 on the front and a new 315 on the tag an paid the road service guy $1000+ and finished the trip.I was lucky that I caught it because the damage could have been severe had it blown out.I am trying to decide should I replace all of the tires or just the steering tires,they are all dated 2005-2006.

Jack,

Would a blister be considered the result of a defect and thus an issue for the tire manufacturer?

Very possibly a defect, but at that age tire???????? I lost a 2006 315 tag tire with about 90,000 on it last summer at 75mph; about $15,000 damage. I would absolutely replace any tire over 5 years of age.

By the way, how well did the 315 tire mount on the 365 wheel?

The 315 mounted fine,the service guy had an air tank that he could fill with 150 PSI and it had a 2" ball valve with a nozzle that he could then aim at the bead and then open the ball valve,it really worked well and seated the bead on the first try,the coach drove like normal with the 315.I was thinking that I should buy a new set also,I guess that I have a 315 Bridgestone as a spare.Jerry,I don't think that the tire was defective,if it was I think that it would have showed up earlier,the roads have too many deep pot holes.

Jack, we just got back from Naples Florida using I-95. I was thinking pot holes because we hit several. We just finished changing the steer and drive tires late last year, leaving the newest of the Toyo's on the tags. The Toyo's will probably go sometime in 2012 before our San Francisco trip in June of that year. If you want Michelins, call Jim Hudson with Holiday Tours in Randleman. He may be able to get you a good price on the new ones. That is where I got the four drive tires on mine at a considerable savings over what I paid for the two steers at an Asheboro Tire Dealer.

Will,I had already looked at your post from some time ago and have Jim on my list to call,THANKS.

Jack:

After my experience with the tire explosion "zipper blowout" change tires immediately. Trust me what I have been involved in and still involved in would more than pay for a set of new tires. Its just not worth the chance!! My Nneuromonics ear treatment device cost over $3500 alone; not counting Dr visits and etc.... That would go a long way toward new tires.

Nice to know the 315 (or maybe a little smaller) will fit on the larger wheel. Best I could do when I had my issue was a used 295/75 to replace the 315/80.