Epic Tire Failure

[tie6044]

I run single Michelin 14.5 R20's on my deuce and I really like them, however, I had a little issue with one. I used my deuce to take my kids to their baseball game (probably an 8 mile drive one way, mostly 40-50 MPH), everything was fine when I got home, the next day I found this! Just glad I wasn't driving when it happened especially if it would have been on the front!

 

[wsucougarx]

Yikes, wow I'm equally glad you weren't driving as well. I've never seen tire failure on 46"'s like that. Seen it on plenty of Goodyear 9.00x20's though

 

[bigtoyman]

that is somewhat bothersome.......
any thoughts on why?

 

[hughscpa]

Gadzooks! You were lucky.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Not a 46" tire. 14.5r20 is the same height as an 1100, just wider. I agree, had that been on the front while driving, it would have been very bad.

 

[shootiniron]

I'd like to know why too.I'm running those as well and some of them have that slight cracking thing going on.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Tubeless rim? Anything sharp on it to damage the tire?

 

[tie6044]

I have a semi tire shop right by my house, they do the mounting for me, they weren't sure why it let go either. It had very minor weather checking and it wasn't near the failure. It was kind of an old tire with a date code of 515 which is the 51st week of 1995 (or 1985).

 

[tie6044]

Tubeless rim? Anything sharp on it to damage the tire?

Yes it is a tubeless rim. Nothing sharp near it or anything rubbing on it, I'm hoping it was just a fluke and will never happen again! The only thing the tire hit was the mud flap when it let go, I'll bet it made a heck of a boom when it blew!

 

[gimpyrobb]

What pressure were you running? Some of the guys on the 715zone running the 1100r16 Michelin XL tires have had this happen with low tire pressures.

 

[tie6044]

I keep them at 70PSI, sometimes a little lower if I don't plan on hauling anything

 

[shootiniron]

How does it ride at 70psi? I keep mine at 35 in the rears and 40 in the front....winch weight.

 

[tie6044]

It rides rough, 50 is a lot better, I might have to try lower now that I know someone else is running them even lower.

 

[Unforgiven]

My guess is they were dismounted improperly from the previous vehicle, with a forklift or highlift jack which weakened that part of the sidewall. Who knows what the history is when it comes to surplus tires. What's the white spray paint for?

 

[gimpyrobb]

Heck, I run my 395s @40psi front and 20 rear.

 

[tie6044]

My guess is they were dismounted improperly from the previous vehicle, with a forklift or highlift jack which weakened that part of the sidewall. Who knows what the history is when it comes to surplus tires. What's the white spray paint for?

That's possible, there were no visible signs of damage but who knows what they have been through. Not sure what the white spray paint is for, it was on there when I got them, I think it's to mark any checking, but it wasn't bad at all on that tire.

 

[jasonjc]

I had the same thing happen on a 12.50X20. It was on a deuce rim with tube,55 psi.
Mine was on the front going 55mph. Only felt a slight pull to that side.

 

[tie6044]

Yep that looks the same, the steel cord that runs around the bead is still in tact, the part of the sidewall that wraps around it just came apart.

 

[citizensoldier]

The XL's are prone to this falure.. This is why they went to the XZL. stronger sidewall..

 

[ALFA2]

tie6044, that looks like a dry rot/presure related failure in the sidewall, check to see how soft and pliable are the newly exposed edges of the side wall are to the touch. They should be rubbery, not plastic feeling. If the rubber feels hard or plasticky, then it is caused by dry-rot, also forced or incorrect previous mounting and dismountings would weaken the sidewall structure, and the psi you run would just force it open. Possibly check the tire manufacturing date codes on the sidewall of the failed tire and others on your truck. Depending on age, environment of use, and mounting damage, you may want to put the freshest tires up front, for safety. (Also larger size XZL's do not need to run that much pressure for the weight of your truck).

Hope this helps some.

ALFA2