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7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
I may regret this post and I'll let you know.  I just got back from a Les Schwab tire center to have my almost 7 year-old Toyo Open Country H/T tires checked out by the service manager.  After looking at all the tires (he did not remove them), he found no checking or cracking and said that the tires were in good shape.  He told me that if they were his tires, he would keep driving on them and consider replacing them between 9-10 years old.

Note that I only have about 12,000 miles on the tires and I don't plan to be driving in overly hot weather before I get them changed.  He told me that keeping weight off the tires using my levelers helps stem the degradation of the sidewalls. 

Your mileage literally may vary!

Mike S.
'06 30' TB Anniversary Edition
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #1 –
Yikes.....way too many posts by others that have experienced major problems after receiving the same "guidance"......though mine look great and I'm in the exact same boat as you (7 years, low mileage) I elected to install new tires...actually have an appointment tomorrow morning....good luck.....

Bill
2013 31' Silver Twin Bed
Semi-retired 6/21....
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #2 –
"Note that I only have about 12,000 miles on the tires..."

In my estimation mileage may be a least indicator!

Back a few years I had a long discussion with Chuck The Tire Man. It was his contention that six years was about the maximum life for your average tire, admitting that some brands will not break down that early, like the Goodyear G947s  that he was installing on my LD as the conversation took place. He said I would probably get 8-10 years from them. Being once bitten (by Michelins) and twice shy I changed those out at 7 years. I'm now on the second set.

My (Michelin) failure occurred in mild weather on the Hwy between Willits and Fort Bragg. If you've never heard a tire explode believe me, it will get your attention!  There was only very mild checking to be seen on the other tires in that set.   :o  :-[
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #3 –


[/quote] My (Michelin) failure occurred in mild weather on the Hwy between Willits and Fort Bragg. If you've never heard a tire explode believe me, it will get your attention! 
[/quote]

What tire was it?  Was it the rear passenger-side inside dual by any chance?

BTW, Goodyear's warranty times out after six years, the same as Michelin.
https://www.goodyear.com/content/dam/gy-com/documents/Goodyear_Tires_Limited_Warranty.pdf
Tires age no matter how much or little they are used. Running tires ten to twelve years is asking for problems. IMO
Wish the Goodyears were the absolute cure for blowout but I have heard of blowouts with all brands of RV tires, including Goodyears. 
The rear, passenger-side, inside dual tire is most likely to blow, due to being exposed to the heat of the exhaust .
After having the inside, rear tire blow , I installed heat shields and now rotate the rear tires periodically, done as a blowout preventative.
Exhaust heat shields | 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: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #4 –
I remember Chuck Carvitto telling me that a big part of his business was replacing blown tires as he was located out in the hot desert.

Larry, I'm sure you have covered this before, but how do you rotate your rear tires?  Outside to outside and inside to inside?

Thanks,
Mike S.
'06 30' TB Anniversary Edition
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #5 –
Quote from: schafir  - 
how do you rotate your rear tires?  Outside to outside and inside to inside?

With the extended stems, you are forced to an outside to outside and inside to inside rotation.

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: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #6 –
"Was it the rear passenger-side inside dual by any chance?"

Negatron Good Buddy, it was the passenger side 'out-side'! Fortunately the shreds did not do any damage.  ::)
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #7 –
"Tires age no matter how much or little they are used."
----
Yes. RV tires are subject to significant heat and stresses, particularly to the sidewalls, and the stresses are exacerbated several times over if the tires are overloaded and/or run underinflated for the weight of the rig. Age, exposure to UV and air pollutants, and using "tire protectant" products containing petroleum distillates, e.g., Armor All, speed the deterioration.

Opinions vary, of course, but I've found that following a 5-year replacement schedule, buying top-quality tires (in my case, Michelin Defenders), and accepting only the freshest, date-matched tires, has worked well to help avoid tire issues over many years. My TK runs well under the 14050 lb. gvwr, and the tires are inflated per its weight. (A clever friend with "tin snips" crafted lovely heat shields to provide extra protection against excessive heat reaching the inside duals.  ;) )

Going down the road on "old" or marginally "old" tires would be very unsettling, and I sure would not even think about heading off on a road trip with tires of questionable age.

YMMV, as ever.







2003 TK has a new home
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #8 –
Chuck Carvitto gave some questionable advice over the years. Avoiding Michelin tires (as I recall, he didn't sell that brand), expecting to get ten years from a set of Goodyears on a heavy motorhome, and dynamic balancing not being important (of course, he didn't have the equipment to do it) come to mind.

As for Mike's question, one needs to balance the cost of a set of tires (not cheap) against the cost of repairs after a blowout. It isn't just the risk of loss of control. Rotating at highway speeds, those big, heavy tires pack quite a payload of kinetic energy. When one comes apart, the fragments can tear off your dump valves and plumbing, break your holding tanks, and even rip right through the floor to damage inside cabinets. Those are expensive things to repair.

Once in the past I got careless and drove on tires with checked sidewalls. Joan pointed them out, and I replaced them. I've been more careful since then.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #9 –
As an example of how careless some RV owners can be, my brother purchased a 2010 Jayco Greyhawk a couple of years ago.

He purchased the rig from a dealer in Arizona. He lives in Fruita, CO. Proudly he texted me of his purchase. My first question, “How are the tires”? He sent me pictures.

Checking, cracking, no matching DOT dates. Some tires nine years old others six, one new. All the tires had been slathered with tire black and from a distance they appeared in good shape. Up close...what a hot mess. My advice to him, “Get the dealer to put on new tires or go straight to a tire shop”. He drove the rig home on those ratty messes. Many hundreds of miles on tires that could blow all at once. He made it home safely. I was a nervous wreck.

The following week he had all seven tires replaced and installed a TPMS.

Our Lazy Daze is approaching year four pushing 17,000 + miles. New tires are on the quickly approaching horizon. Budget for the future and enjoy your tomorrows.

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #10 –
What is checking on a tire?  Cracking I know but I have not heard of checking.
Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #11 –
"What is checking on a tire? "

Checking is the early stage of cracking, tiny little hairline blemishes that when they grow up will become cracks. It takes a practiced eye to see them, along with good lighting but once they start there's no going back.   :o
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
"What is checking on a tire? "

Checking is the early stage of cracking, tiny little hairline blemishes that when they grow up will become cracks. It takes a practiced eye to see them, along with good lighting but once they start there's no going back.  :o
If you google 'tire cracking and checking picture' you will find examples.
I hope things have changed but in the late 60's - early 70's in the South Coast Air Basin they measured ozone levels
by how long it took a finely calibrated rubber band to rot and snap.  That comes to mind when thinking of tires and pollution.

Joel
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #13 –
It was my understanding that “checking” was the appearance of small cracks in the sidewalks of a tire. “Checking” would be signs of an ageing tire and a warning to get new tires.

 https://youtu.be/qOdjBYnP6_U

One dictionary definition of checking is “to crack or split usually in small checks”...”painted surfaces may check with age”. Paint checking can often be seen in car paint.

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #14 –
Oh gosh, I love posts like this since have a very special interest in tires. If you wish to know more, just ask :)

The worst possible conditions for tires happen to be high speed with a heavy load in warm climates. Sounds like a typical RV day to me. I am not aware of any type of visual inspection method that would provide the amount of degradation taking place in belt wedge or skim rubber - these internal components have much to do with the probability of a belt separation taking place. And when it comes to belt issues vehicle load is the number one metric to consider.

For an RV application I would not trust a tire over five years old no matter what it looks like on the outside or how many miles it has been in service.
Chet in Yorktown, Virginia
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #15 –
Would not a decent TPMS help avoid these tire blowouts?  Usually there is a loss of pressure and certainly an increase in temperature first.  Have any of these blowouts occurred with TPMS installed and was there any warning in advance?
2006 MB
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #16 –
Here is Continental Tires take on tire age:

"Continental is not aware of any technical data to support the removal of service for tires past a specific age. But the same principle applies to the tires of your vehicle as it does for any other part of your car – age matters.

Together with other members of the tire and automotive industries, Continental advises that all tires (including spare tires) made more than ten years ago should be removed from service and replaced with new tires."

For the full statement, including caveats: Things to know about the age of your tires | Continental tires

Personally, I drive my RV enough that they wear out before 10 years,  typically at 5-7 years, so I don't have the dilemma to deal with. I think I would be comfortable using 8 year old tires, if they are: from a major manufacture,  visually in very good condition, have no history of major impacts, and I will be driving in less than 90 degree ambients. Note that I cruise at 60 mph.
2005 Jayco 24SS
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #17 –
Ah tires, coffee and black tanks always good for a long thread .....

From the Michelin web site.....
"All MICHELIN® tires4 (both Replacement & Original Equipment) come with a limited warranty for treadwear, as well as a limited warranty which covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread, or for 6 years from date of purchase, whichever occurs first."

To me if a company is only going to stand behind its produce for a  limited amount of time I should believe them.    They know more about the product then I ever would. 

I rotate, balanced and air pressure check all 7 tires.    I have a TPMS.  I have found that the temperature of the tires is more affected by the heat from sun exposure i.e. the side that is facing the sun runs hotter than the other side.    Yes anything that reduces the tire temp is good.  

Bottom line I put enough miles on 'Baxter' so milage is more of a concern then age of tire.

glen
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #18 –
"Treadwear" is not the critical issue with tires in an RV application unless the alignment is off, causing uneven wear; an RV tire can retain viable tread when the sidewalls are dried out, cracked, bulging, checked, alligatored, heat-blasted, and ready to blow. A manufacturer's "limited warranty" against excessive treadwear or "defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread" sounds good, but, in my experience, doesn't mean much when applied to an RV tire. If the manufacturer offered the same warranty against wear or damage to the sidewall of an RV tire, I might be less skeptical of the value of any "promise". 

Another YMMV issue.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #19 –
Quote from: Jackhiett  - 
Would not a decent TPMS help avoid these tire blowouts?

No, unless the problem was caused by underinflation and the user had set up the TPMS when the tires were properly inflated.

Most tire blowouts happen almost instantaneously.  Much quicker than the polling rate of a TPMS, and certainly faster than one's ability to safely pull over from a stop at 55-70 mph.

TPMS is valuable for monitoring pressures (and temperatures, if so featured) and letting you know of an underinflation or slow leak issue. 
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #20 –
I had the same Toyo tires on my rig when I bought it. They only had about 5000 miles on them and were 6 years old. They still looked perfect. So I to decided to ignore the recommendations. On our first long trip we had one blowout and disintegrate. I learned my lesson and won’t make that mistake again.
Lynn and Lori
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #21 –
You are probably right but I am also thinking many blowouts may have an early indications such as high temperatures.
I am wondering if you, or anyone here, actually had a blowout with the TPMS engaged?  I would love to hear about it from someone that actually experienced it.  It would also be interesting to see any data that compared blowouts of those using TOMS to those that don’t.  Wishful thinking for something like that because there are so many variables.
2006 MB
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #22 –
Personally, I would never let my tires go longer than five years since living in Souther California means heat, and sun almost all year long.  Mileage means little when it comes to RV’s and I believe “you’re only as safe as your tires.”  The potential damage done from a blow-out to your rig, the possibility of real danger to the occupants, and the loss of a perfectly planned trip are more than enough to replace tires every five years.  Fortunately, I’ve never had a blow-out and never want to experience that disaster.

My two-cents worth based on twelve years of RVing experience.

Jules
'O6 IB Anniversary Model
Sue, My Copilot
Carlie, our canine princess
Re: 7 Year-old Tires: Still going strong
Reply #23 –
Jack,

You said: “I am wondering if you, or anyone here, actually had a blowout with the TPMS engaged?”

Others here have mentioned blowouts on their LD’s with no warning from  their very reliable TPMS. The warning only comes after the damage has been done.

A blowout is a sudden catastrophic event. Unlike any other tire failure. As good as a TPMS is, they are incapable, AFAIK, of such a feat.

Maybe they should have a data entry for tire age and it can give you a gentle heads up. I can see it now. https://youtu.be/1IPPn9t6dyE

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"