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MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Yahoo Message Number: 39861
Good morning list. Gordo here.

While chatting with a good friend who just bought new tires for his MoHo, I asked him the Date on the tires he bought... He looked at me with a blank stare. What do you mean date? Turns out his brand new MoHo tires were built in 2003 a full 5 year old-!!
I thought I'd share this video with you fine folks. Just in case you thought tire age didn't matter... Kinda reminds me of the tobacco manufactures take on dangers of smoking. It is an eye opening video to say the least.

Point your mouse to

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
Gordo

Allure 30344

MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39873
Outstanding Gordo:

I have been on a "DEAF EARS" Campaign for many years concerning tires and how they are manufactured and used by consumers.
I call it a "DEAF EARS" campaign, because no one wants to hear about and really don't care, right up to the point that something CATOSTROPHIC happens to them.
Our MotorHomes sit around for many months at a time not being used. Tucson, AZ is a prime example. When we lived there, you would see many Motorhomes in RV parks, belonging to the Snow Birds, that haven't been driven in years. Sitting in the HOT Dessert sun and knowing those rubber tires and just drying out and slowly rotting away.
In the ABC Video another factor that they DID NOT mention as load factors and highway speeds.
Many vehicles on the highway do not have the proper tires on the vehicles to be safely operated. For instance: Mini-vans. Most of them have passenger rated tires on the vehicles and they should have a Light Truck Tire. We all see mini-vans toting many kids around to soccer games and the like. And in many cases the tires on these vehicles are overloaded for the number of occupants on board. In too many cases, this is just accidents waiting to happen.
Then there is the issue with speed! Call me an old "Fuddy Duddy", but when we are on the road, we cruise at around 60 mph and never over 65. Yet, I am constantly being passed by Coaches flying down the road alot faster than me, and with TOAD behind as well. Most people also don't know that tires have a maximum Speed rating. And you can verify this by looking your tire up on the Manufacturers Website. Now, these are average numbers, but in most cases, tires are rated for 75 mph. That meaning, they will fail quicker at around that speed or higher. I have read someplace on the Goodyear site, that they FAIL TEST tires to 90 mph, meaning that these tires will COME APART and be shredded at these speeds. And they don't fail test all their tires, only a sampling!
I guess we don't kill enough people in this country every year from tire failures for anyone to worry about it. Only staying informed about SAFETY issues can save your life and the lives of others.

You all take Care.
Jeff

2007 Tribute
#81052

Just as a side note:

According to the National Highway Safety Administration: There are on average 20,000 accidents involving RV's each year. 80% of them are Motorhomes!

Something to think about!!

MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39876
After spending over 40 years in the tire business, selling millions of tires and dealing with tire failures, my thoughts may be of interest. Tires are very complex. Age is just one of the factors! The number ONE cause of tire failure is LOW AIR PRESSURE (and has always been since pneumatic tires were first marketed). Valve core leaks, small nails, change in loads, temperatures, elevations, rim-bead debris are just some of the causes of low air pressure. The tire companies do make mistakes in manufacturing and for the most part try to recall known tires with safety issues. This video is very good, http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897but I don't think the whole story is told. Most of us, if we just check our tire pressures and visually check for damage on a regular basis, will never have problems with our older tires on our motor homes. If or when the tire companies and/or retailers are pressured to sell only "fresh" tires, we will all be paying much higher prices to cover this unnecessary issue.

Jim Kelso

95 Affinity 5295

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39877
Jim... Gordo here.

I fully understand the other factors involved with tire care and use.
Something we should all be aware of. What I don't know is how the older tires were stored and cared for during all these years at the tire dealers shop. How will this factor affect the performance once in my careful hands. This is the point we need to be aware of. Tires left out on a display rack in the full sun or in a very cold day... In my world Jim, these unknowns have a huge affect once on my vehicle and rolling down the road. No matter how well I care for these older "new" tires, I will always be at the mercy of a tire dealers employees handling of these older new tires in a responsible way during all those YEARS.

In my world... Better to check the manufacturing dates and refuse any tire older then the year I am buying it in. I had this very issue happen to me 2 years ago. The tires, the dealer, was going to install were 3 years old. I refused them and within 10 minutes they had fresh (06 dated) tires ready to install. Of course I'm sure the next unsuspecting consumer most likely got these older tires installed.

The moral to this story? If you are forking out hard earned dollars for NEW tires... That's just what one should get. New fresh tires.
Just my 2 cents.

Gordo

Allure 30344 with 07 dated tires installed.

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39878
The dealer can put those 3-year old tires on a tractor-trailer rig and they will wear out in 6 to 12 months. Those guys put on the kind of mileage where this is not a time problem for them. They wear them out.
Ours die of old age.
Mike

'95 Magna 5266

Gordo wrote:

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39879
Mike... Gordo here.

Yes they can... The real question is do they, install them on trucks before our MoHo's? Not a chance in heck... Most dealers employees don't have the insight for this sort of behavior. Grab the easiest at hand tire and throw it on. You honestly think they check for manufacture dates? Besides truckers most often buy used tires for the trailers and keep the big bucks for new front tires.

In any case. Very easy fix. Check the dates on all tires you buy.

Gordo

Allure 30344

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39880
Jerry

2004 Inspire

I just put 6 new Michelin XZA2 Engery Radials on my Motorhome at Les Schwab in Klamath Falls OR and they let me go and personally check the dates on the tires, 5 were 08 and 1 was 44/07, They told me they do not put old tires on anything. So when it comes to tire service the people who live in the West have a good Dealer, The care they took with my Aluminum wheels was unbelievable, Great place to do business with. The ride is fantastic, and the first trip, got the best MPG I've ever had. Really glad to get the Toyos off .

Jerry

2004 Inspire 51012

MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39881
Gordo, you are right!

When buying new tires, armed with the DOT (Department of Transportation) serial number, last 4 digits, you can make a better consumer choice. As a former tire dealer I tried to stock sizes and types that would sell but sometimes I guessed wrong. My employees didn't always "rotate" the stock I had properly, but all in all, I don't believe I ever had one tire returned that failed due to old age!

Caveat Emptor Always!

Jim Kelso

95 Affinity 5295

Quote from: Gordo \[br\
]
Jim... Gordo here.

I fully understand the other factors involved with tire care and

use.

Quote
Something we should all be aware of. What I don't know is how the > older tires were stored and cared for during all these years at

the

Quote
tire dealers shop. How will this factor affect the performance once

in

Quote
my careful hands. This is the point we need to be aware of. Tires

left

Quote
out on a display rack in the full sun or in a very cold day... In

my

Quote
world Jim, these unknowns have a huge affect once on my vehicle

and

Quote
rolling down the road. No matter how well I care for these

older "new"

Quote
tires, I will always be at the mercy of a tire dealers employees > handling of these older new tires in a responsible way during all > those YEARS.

In my world... Better to check the manufacturing dates and refuse

any

Quote
tire older then the year I am buying it in. I had this very issue > happen to me 2 years ago. The tires, the dealer, was going to

install

Quote
were 3 years old. I refused them and within 10 minutes they had

fresh

Quote
(06 dated) tires ready to install. Of course I'm sure the next > unsuspecting consumer most likely got these older tires installed.

The moral to this story? If you are forking out hard earned

dollars

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39882
Jerry... Gordo here.

Les Schwab was the tire dealer here in Sacramento, ca. who was going to install the 2 year old tires on my STS. However in defense of this dealership... The 2 employees who were doing the job were newish to the tire business. Once I called them on it, a long time employee took over and brought out the fresh tires. I love Les Schwab tire company and have never scratched any of my special wheels. But even the best have their issues (employee turn over?). Always best to check the dates no matter who installs them.

Gordo

Allure 30344

Re: MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39883
Gordo Jerry here

I ask the tire Tech who was installing my Tires how long had he worked there, he said 5 years and had 25 more to go, The perks at Les Schwab are wonderful, and the employees love it. It is still a family owned company ever though Les died last year.I love doing business with them, I escaped California to get my tires in Oregon for obvious reasons, and the fact that we were heading north anyway...

Jerry

2004 Inspire 51012
 

MoHo and auto tires what you really need to know 1st 2 digits as we

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 39884
Gordo,

Oh yes, one more item may help consumers. A number of tire salesman will tell you this tire is a "XYZ" brand or made by "XYZ" company. Armed with the 1st 2 digits of the serial number, the actual manufacturing plant is disclosed. Even if the tire is a name brand, you can tell where (which plant in the world) the tire was built. Check out the site below.
http://www.harriger.com/tire2.htm
Jim Kelso

95 Affinity 5295