Steer tires: Really good luck - or divine intervention?

[GlampDaddy]

We've all heard the stories - when a steer tire blows, the result is usually serious body damage, or a totaled coach on the side of the road with its wheels in the air, and too often a couple of aging RVers hoping for the best from their hospital beds. And, so, with a big sigh of relief, I am accepting what may have been really good luck - or was it divine intervention?
My steer tires are the beloved (Michelin-only) 365/70 R22.5 that are rare as talking dogs and twice as expensive. According to Michelin, their life expectancy is 10 years. According to @GlampDaddy that's not quite the case. And so, last Saturday morning I was moving our coach from the state park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, to the Buena Vista Motorcoach Resort, also in Gulf Shores. I did my customary walk-around while the engine was warming and noticed a bulge in the driver-side steer tire. Well, damn!
It was still holding air, so I still drove to the new site. All the while thinking of where I might find these elusive tires.
Up next was a series of events that I would never have banked on. It started with a call to Steve Showalter (Showalter RV in Nappanee, IN), who had me call Glen Zimmerman of Glen's Tires. And:

• Glen had the tires I needed, and rolled them across the highway to Steve's waiting trailer
• Southern Tire in Mobile AL agreed to make the 1.5 hour drive to my site in Gulf Shores
• And, Coach-Net paid Southern Tire to make the trip
• Even better, Southern Tire only charged $40/tire to mount the new skins at our site.

When I priced the same tires a year ago, they were about $1600 each. Glen's charged me less than $1200.
Now I'm still pondering the big question. Was it just good luck, or divine intervention? Either way, I'm really thankful I saw that bulge in the sidewall rather than having a blowout on I-10 heading back to Texas.

 

[J&JD]

Time to play the lottery @GlampDaddy. Glad you caught it in time.

 

[Neemer]

Wow! I would attribute your good fortune to your relationship with Steve Showalter.

 

[Rich W.]

I am once again reminded of my earlier thoughts about steer tire failures on Newmar coaches being attributable in part to the ease of turning the steer tires on hard surfaces with the coach stationary, putting more stress on the sidewalls than would otherwise be possible without Comfort Drive.

All the information that has led me to make the connection between CD and steer tire failures on Newmar coaches is purely anecdotal, and perhaps strongly influenced by the greater attention I pay to Newmar issues, stories, etc, but it is a fact that CD makes it very easy to turn the wheels on hard surfaces while stationary, and that the system sometimes does this even if the driver doesn’t intend to, due to CD’s design to return steer tires to center.

Just food for thought - I have no hard data and I may be completely wrong but it seems like a possibility to me given the failures of otherwise perfectly serviceable and sometimes near new tires, and a reason to be more deliberate in not allowing the steer tires to turn while the coach is stationary.

 

[Neal]

@GlampDaddy I'm glad to hear of the happy ending. Good people get good in return, knowing good people sure helps too, glad Steve Showalter saves the day again after he came through for tire blowouts in London Aire's I believe heading to the Newmar Hoots rally October 2023. Did you take any pictures by any chance? What was the age of the tire? I wonder if you reach out to Michelin RV if they'll help you offset the costs via warranty support?

For those that don't know Steve Showalter, he's the owner of a RV dealership in Nappanee, IN. If you're ever in the area and in need of sales or service, his info is below. For those heading to Newmar for example and need service and can't get it, try Steve's place, or if you need service try going to him first. Support the great people in our community.

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