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Topic: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires (Read 2616 times) previous topic - next topic
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Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
After 22 years of LD ownership, we had our first tire failure.
It was the most common tire to blow, the 5-1/2 year old passenger side, inner rear tire, the tire that is most exposed to the exhaust 's heat. I had hope to finish the summer's travels before replacing the tires, they still had plenty of tread.

The tire was full inflated and monitored by a TPMS.  I had checked the monitor just ten minutes before and seen 78-psi, so low pressure was not the problem.
Since we have extended valve stems, rotating the tires is a pain.
Many owners, self included, stopped rotating the rear tires years ago. The rear tires usually wear evenly, always timing out before wearing out.  This practice keeps the same tire continuously exposed to the heat, radiating off the exhaust pipe.
There is a good chance that the tire was weakened by many years of heat exposure,
Rear tire rotation will now be on the maintenance schedule, sharing the heat exposure with the other inner tire. This should make the guys at America's Tire happy.

When the tire blew, we heard a bang and then flap, flap, flap, as the tread was coming off. The flapping beat the bottom the LD, tearing up some of the sheet metal that covers the bottom of the floor, along with electric step's wiring.
Luckily the damage wasn't to serious and has been repair to as good a new condition.
Blown rear tire damage | Flickr

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #1 –
A reminder that even the  most diligent preventive maintenance program doesn't prevent all failures. Think I will add tire rotation to my list as well.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #2 –
Larry

I didn't see mention of the brand of tire!  Would they have been Michelin?   ::)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 

I didn't see mention of the brand of tire!  Would they have been Michelin?  ::)

Steve
You know the answer to that, Michelin LTXs, not the hard riding steel belted tires you and the Tireman like.
Happy is wasn't a steel belted tire, when one throws its tread and is spinning around, the steel belts are much more destructive than fiber belts and can do thousand of dollars worth damage, while the tread is removing itself.

I feel I caused of the blow out by never rotating the rear tires, leaving the one tire to endure the exhaust heat.
I was lucky, it took $25 worth of materials and a few hours to fix. Of course, if it had gone to an RV shop, it would probably have been over a $1000 and would take three weeks or more to fix.

While I was at it, sheet metal heat shields were made for the exhaust pipe, where it comes near the rear inside tire.
This should decrease the amount of heat the tire experiences.
I have added a couple photos of the simple heat shields to the Blown Tire file.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157685899755355

Larry
 
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
After 22 years of LD ownership, we had our first tire failure.  It was the most common tire to blow, the 5-1/2 year old passenger side, inner rear tire, the tire that is most exposed to the exhaust 's heat. I had hope to finish the summer's travels before replacing the tires, they still had plenty of tread.

Well all I can say is DANG or something similar.  And your lousy trouble probably saved us from a similar fate.  We're about 2 years and 10,000 miles on our tires.  So before we go on the next long trip, I'm getting the rear tires rotated to share the stress on the rear tires.  I hate to say thank you Larry because well ... okay ... thank you.
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #5 –
I've been waiting for this post as I saw the pics in flicker weeks ago.
1997 TK
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Steve
You know the answer to that, Michelin LTXs, not the hard riding steel belted tires you and the Tireman like.
Happy is wasn't a steel belted tire, when one throws its tread and is spinning around, the steel belts are much more destructive than fiber belts and can do thousand of dollars worth damage, while the tread is removing itself.
According to Michelin, the LTX has three steel belts. My understanding is every Michelin has steel belts.
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #8 –
Larry I'm glad to know that you and your wife are ok. 🚐 Keep on rolling 😊
Daughter of the first Lazy Bones
Hitting the road on my own and with a friend 🚐 while reporting back to the Lazy Bones at home 🛋

2 Lazy Bones - Home
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #9 –
Larry,

Sorry to hear about your tire problem but admire your ability to make those repairs.

Given that some of our recent experiences, such as transmission rebuilding, have mirrored yours I just ordered new tires from Costco to replace our eight year old Michelins and am hoping to get them installed before hitting the road in late August. I too had hoped to get through the travel season with the ones I have now, and probably could, but the savings in doing so would actually be quite small in the long run, and not worth the risk of what happened to you. Our rear tires are getting close to the wear bars anyway, so we've gotten our money's worth.

I too had stopped tire rotations because of the need to dismount tires during that procedure given our Alcoa rims and because tire wear was even and balance not a problem. I think I will take your suggestion and just do a simplified rotation of the back tires side to side in the future.

As an aside, I have a friend who has been pushing me to get a TPMS system but I've been resisting. It's interesting that yours did not give you a warning of this.

I'm glad this wasn't worse for you.

Terry
2003 26.5' RB
Gardnerville, NV
Terry
2003 26.5'RB
Gardnerville, NV
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Terry Burnes  - 
I think I will take your suggestion and just do a simplified rotation of the back tires side to side in the future.

As an aside, I have a friend who has been pushing me to get a TPMS system but I'veyou can  been resisting. It's interesting that yours did not give you a warning of this.
Terry

The TPMS worked as should have, alarming just after the explosion. There was nothing out of normal for the TPMS to detect.
The tire was at full pressure when the tread came off. I had checked a few minutes before and all the tires were at full pressure. 
The TPMS monitor scrolls though and shows the pressure of each wheel, continuously.

The failure was a mechanical failure, not one caused by the lack of air.
Through the years, I have read about many inside, passenger side dual failures.
The exposure to the exhaust heat seems to be what's common to each of them.
The factory exhaust heat shield's protect the gas tank, not the tires. I made a pair of simple, sheet metal heat shields, aimed to protect the tire.
I will check both inner tire's sidewall temperatures, on the next trip, to see if one sidewall temperature is higher than the other.

Larry

Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #11 –
Are photos of the heat shields available?
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #12 –
Quote from: paul banbury  - 
Are photos of the heat shields available?
See the last two photos in the set.
Blown rear tire damage | Flickr
I didn't expect them to fit on the first try, so I didn't take any photos before the test fitting.
The shields are secured to the exhaust pipe with hose clamps.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #13 –
Does your TPMS show tire temps?  Curious if it showed a higher running temp or higher temp before it blew.
2004 26.5 MB
Enjoying retirement traveling, Rzr riding, photography, and of course the 2 grand girls!
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #14 –
Larry, it sounds like the TPMS that you're using DOESN'T show a current temperature reading, at the same time as the air pressure..? The system I have shows both, per tire. The reason I'm using the system I have...having experienced an inner pass. side blow out [ and the attending damage caused by the unraveling tread banging against the undercarriage] it was a main concern along with air pressure.
I don't know if this system would have alerted me to the danger in time to avoid the blow out, but I hope so in the future. I also stopped using Michelins..two blow outs, one on each side dualie.
Tried six new BF Goodrich and they all had failures of one type or another. Now using TOYOS and four years in, have had no issues--love the tires, a tad rougher ride, but a nicer 'handle'. So far, so good.
Really glad all ended safely!! It's pretty traumatizing, having that *&%#%$& tire explode!!

At 01:15 PM 7/26/2017, you wrote:

Quote

Quote

On: Wed Jul 26, 2017 Terry Burnes Wrote: I think I will take your suggestion and just do a simplified rotation of the back tires side to side in the future.
As an aside, I have a friend who has been pushing me to get a TPMS system but I'veyou can been resisting. It's interesting that yours did not give you a warning of this.

Terry

The TPMS worked as should have, alarming just after the explosion. There was nothing out of normal for the TPMS to detect.
The tire was at full pressure when the tread came off. I had checked a few minutes before and all the tires were at full pressure.
The TPMS monitor scrolls though and shows the pressure of each wheel, continuously.

The failure was a mechanical failure, not one caused by the lack of air.
Through the years, I have read about many inside, passenger side dual failures.

The exposure to the exhaust heat seems to be what's common to each of them.
The factory exhaust heat shield's protect the gas tank, not the tires. I made a pair of simple, sheet metal heat shields, aimed to protect the tire.
I will check both inner tire's sidewall temperatures, on the next trip, to see if one sidewall temperature is higher than the other.
Larry
Larry

Collection: Lazy Daze

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Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #15 –
Quote from: folivier  - 
Does your TPMS show tire temps?  Curious if it showed a higher running temp or higher temp before it blew.

Our TPMS does not monitor temperature directly will still indicate an overheated tire by noticing the increase tire pressure.
Heating the air, trapped inside the tire, causes the pressure to rise.
Just minutes before, the four rear tires were within 2-psi, of each other, nothing out of the ordinary .
The TPMS alarms when the tire pressure drops below a set point or when the pressure rises too high.
Both the low and high-pressure alarms are adjustable.

A tire does not need to be under inflated or overheated to fail. Ours failed when the tread detached itself from the core of the tire.
I had the manager at America's Tire inspect the blown tire and he saw no indications of heat failure or underinflation.

We have been very lucky over the last 22 years. Driving over 160,000 miles, in two LDs,  we have used fives sets of Michelins and the OEM BFGs (the ones that many replaced immediately after picking up their new rig), and only suffered one failed tire and one slow leak.
Considering how many of those miles were on substandard roads or dirt roads, that's not bad.

Even though the tires had 42,000 miles and were 5-1/2 years old, America's Tire replaced it under warranty.
The cost repair the damage was minimal at $25, plus the time involved.

We were lucky and will now rotate the rear tires, side to side, regularly.
Two additional exhaust heat shields have been installed as a preventative to help reduce the long term heat exposure to the rear, passenger-side inside tire.

Larry


Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #16 –
Reminding us that tires have memories. All wear, use and abuse (even running over curbs) is cumulative. They are amazing little air balloons that suspend tons of weight while rotating about 840 times every mile over hot, cold, rough roads. There is no such thing as an easy trip for tires.

That's why they get so very tired.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
 
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #18 –
A year ago June, we had the same blow out, same tire, same BRAND, same pressure and temperature conditions.  When ours went, it spalled the entire tread and left the inner carcass still inflated!  I never got a blowout warning on my TPMS.  The only warning I got was a couple of loud thumps when the separated tread departed for the median.

Our defective tire was six months on the good side of the Michelin recall.  I got a free replacement under my road hazard warranty but ever since then, and even more so as I hear these stories, my confidence in the Michelin brand is evaporating.

Don't know where to go after I don't trust Michelin any more.

Dan

2007 IB-30
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #19 –
Quote from: dsandsaz  - 
Don't know where to go after I don't trust Michelin any more.
Every brand and type of tire has failures.
You hear about Michelins more because so many folks run them.

Once again, we see a passenger-side, inside rear tire blowing.
This seems to be more of a location problem than a tire problem.

Guess I will remove the DIY heat shields and take some photos so the rest of you can make and install your own.
It's the only defense I can think of, beside rotation, that will reduce the exposure to the high exhaust heat.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #21 –
Some interesting information here:

Tire Tread Separations, Defects and Blowouts

Note the White Paper link on that page too.

This seems to be designed for attorneys involved in tire failure litigation, and may be somewhat dated, but nonetheless seems instructive. On the other hand I'm not sure what to do with it.

I've gotten good service from Michelin tires of all forms, and they are a company that has gone to great lengths to cultivate a reputation for quality, and their tires are expensive, so they seem like a good bet to have avoided the shortcuts that can lead to problems. But who really knows? It's obvious from reading the above that the tire industry is far from transparent.

Terry
2003 26.5'RB
Gardnerville, NV
Terry
2003 26.5'RB
Gardnerville, NV
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #22 –
We joked that the better the tire the bigger the boom when it blew.

We had tread separation on a Michelin LTX but the tread didn't leave therefore no damage. TPMS is useless. You would think there would be a high temperature warning. Guess not.

We continue to use Michelin but upgraded to XPS Rib. Bigger boom next time!
Harry 2006RB
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #23 –
Anyone running super singles in the back instead of duals? They're all the rage in semi-land.

Chip
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Exhaust Pipe Heat Shield for Tires
Reply #24 –
Haven't seen a single tire dually in years. Was told they were like roller skates on ice.
Harry 2006RB