[VAC] Re: Tire replacement worries

["Kevin D. Allen" <kallen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings Charlotte!

The issue that caused the recall should be remedied by this time.  It would
probably be wise to have your dealer cross-reference the identification
numbers on the tires he/she is selling you to be certain that they are not
refugees from the recall.  It also might not be a bad idea to ask the dealer
to check the date code and be sure that the tires have not been warehoused
for an inordinate amount of time.  A reputable tire dealer should not have
any problems answering these two questions - - I know that my local Good
Year dealer was happy to provide answers to these questions.

I have had my Good Year Marathons for about three years now, and they were
among the era of tires recalled.  My dealer checked the codes with those of
the recall and found only one that matched the codes - - but as a gesture
toward customer good will - - he replaced both tires on that axle for the
same pro-rated charged.  I have never felt anything but safe with these
tires on my coach, and the tires now have over 15,000 miles of troublefree
travel.
>
>  And on a related note,do you all take your spare tire on every trip?I
> ask,as I hate that the only place I can store mine is on the tongue and I
> have just nicely polished that area....hate to cover it up!I have been
given
> an aerosal bottle of some stuff to use in case of a flat.It is supposed to
> "patch"  it from the inside.I was told that I could just go with this and
> carry an inflator that runs off my battery to get myself back on the road
in
> case of a flat.I am really unsure whether this is wise advice or not.Does
> anyone use this,or a similar method and leave their spare at home?
>
I carry a spare at all times as well as the emergency inflation product.  <I
was fortunate in that an earlier owner had the rear frame reinforced and a
tire mount placed on the rear bumper for the spare.>  The emergency
inflation products are generally only going to help if the culprit of the
problem is either a leaky valve stem, or a small puncture in the tread.  If
one of these products is used, it is essential that the tire service
technician be advised the product used and its composition as some of the
products are flammable and/or potentially explosive if exposed to flame or
spark which is quite possible in many tire shops.  The spare is there in the
event of a blowout, sidewall problem, tread separation, or some other type
of large puncture.

My fear, traveling in a single-axle trailer without a spare would be the
circumstances that you might find yourself in should you have a blowout,
tread separation, or other non-repairable tire failure.  You might find
yourself miles from the nearest tire dealer with the proper ST rated tire
for your trailer, and you would be at the mercy of whaterver tire dealer was
available.  A problem under these conditions could also leave your trailer
stranded beside the road for an excessively long time.  The problem is a
little less of an issue with a tandem axle trailer as it would be possible
to run with one wheel/tire assembly removed for a short distance (I wouldn't
try it with my rig, but it was suggested in the literature that came with my
trailer).

Another question that you didn't pose, but you might want to consider.  When
purchasing your tires, don't take chances.  If at all possible, take your
trailer to the selected dealer and allow him/her to measure all clearances
and order the properly sized tire - - with clearances being tight
(especially in many of the single axle rigs), it is possible that a modern
equivalent to the size recommended by the factory in '67 may not be
compatible with your trailer.  If the tire dealer orders the tire and then
it doesn't fit, the responsibility is his and not yours.  I did this with my
'64 Overlander - - it meant two trips to the dealer, but the tire sizing and
fit was never a question (my Good Year dealer doesn't stock ST tires in his
store, but he was able to order them early in the week and had them ready to
install the following Saturday morning).

Good luck with your tire decision!

Kevin Allen
WBCCI/VAC #6359
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban