I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires. I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking. Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks. Rich Makela M-17 #233 - Harmony
I'd probably replace those. Just getting old, like the rest of us. Cheap insurance to make sure the boat gets from here to there in one piece. t On Tue, Sep 24, 2013 at 3:00 PM, Rich Makela <richmak@makelaperformance.com>wrote:
I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires.
I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking.
Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks.
Rich Makela
M-17 #233 - Harmony
Rich, Those little guys deserve a decent burial. I'd bet they are 15 years old at least. Hard to justify changing them when you only run 50 miles a season, but I think I would replace them next spring for the cheapest rubber I could find that fit. Mike -----Original Message----- From: Rich Makela Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 6:00 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Trailer Tire Sidewall Cracks I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires. I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking. Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks. Rich Makela M-17 #233 - Harmony
Rich, Another cause of the sidewall cracking is due to deterioration as a result of extended exposure to sun. If you notice, those owners of the expensive RVs typically have tire covers. One side usually gets more sun exposure then the other, which sounds like what has happened to your trailer. When I took ownership of my M-15, I too had to replace cracked tires. As others have stated, it's cheap insurance. Good Luck, Skip -----Original Message----- From: speedernut2 <speedernut2@gmail.com> To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tue, Sep 24, 2013 8:12 pm Subject: Re: M_Boats: Trailer Tire Sidewall Cracks Rich, Those little guys deserve a decent burial. I'd bet they are 15 years old at least. Hard to justify changing them when you only run 50 miles a season, but I think I would replace them next spring for the cheapest rubber I could find that fit. Mike -----Original Message----- From: Rich Makela Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 6:00 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: M_Boats: Trailer Tire Sidewall Cracks I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires. I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking. Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks. Rich Makela M-17 #233 - Harmony
On 24-Sep-13 6:00 PM, Rich Makela wrote: Hi Rich, When we bought our M15 that was located in Panama City, FL the trailer tires had sidewall cracks. We wanted to replace them prior to driving back to Connecticut, but the Trailer Sales company said every trailer tire in Florida had sidewall cracks, and if we wanted new tires we would have to wait another day so that they could order the proper size from their distributor. Their opinion was that the tires were OK. We drove home (we also had a spare mounted on the trailer, just-in-case), and had no problem driving 1,200 miles. However, as soon as we were home again, I bought new high quality Goodyear radials for the trailer. That allowed me to drive the Interstates at 70 MPH going to windward with the M15 behind the VW-Jetta VR6 wagon, and we never again worried about potential tire problems as long as we owned our M15. It boils down to: Do you want to live with the Sword-of-Damocles hanging over you and the possibility of immenent tire failures every time you are on the road, or: do you put on new tires and drive without nagging thoughts; and potentially dangerous tire failures at any moment. (Remember MURPHY will make sure that it happens at the worst moment; at the worst place; and in the pouring rain) I won't live with nagging thoughts while hauling the M15. I want maximum possible safety and dependability. The new tire price is a cheap insurance policy. Connie
I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires.
I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking.
Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks.
Rich Makela
M-17 #233 - Harmony
Amen! Drove back to Texas hauling my "new used" M17 from Missouri. The tires were not treated well by climate. I spent more time looking back at those tires in my side mirror than I did looking forward for 900 miles. And I was driving 300 of those miles on Rt.69 in Oklahoma.aka pothole city. Murphy must have been somewhere's else because I made it. Only casualty was the mast crutch which decided to split and left my mast swaying in the breeze over the stern. Nothing like messin' about in boats..... New tires for me. Fair winds, Tom B M17#258 On Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 3:26 PM, Conbert Benneck <chbenneck@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
On 24-Sep-13 6:00 PM, Rich Makela wrote:
Hi Rich,
When we bought our M15 that was located in Panama City, FL the trailer tires had sidewall cracks. We wanted to replace them prior to driving back to Connecticut, but the Trailer Sales company said every trailer tire in Florida had sidewall cracks, and if we wanted new tires we would have to wait another day so that they could order the proper size from their distributor.
Their opinion was that the tires were OK.
We drove home (we also had a spare mounted on the trailer, just-in-case), and had no problem driving 1,200 miles. However, as soon as we were home again, I bought new high quality Goodyear radials for the trailer.
That allowed me to drive the Interstates at 70 MPH going to windward with the M15 behind the VW-Jetta VR6 wagon, and we never again worried about potential tire problems as long as we owned our M15.
It boils down to:
Do you want to live with the Sword-of-Damocles hanging over you and the possibility of immenent tire failures every time you are on the road, or: do you put on new tires and drive without nagging thoughts; and potentially dangerous tire failures at any moment. (Remember MURPHY will make sure that it happens at the worst moment; at the worst place; and in the pouring rain)
I won't live with nagging thoughts while hauling the M15. I want maximum possible safety and dependability. The new tire price is a cheap insurance policy.
Connie
I've noticed cracking on the sidewalls of my M-17 trailer tires, and I'm
trying to determine whether it poses a threat. I've attached a PDF with photos. The starboard tire is worse than the port tire. I can't find the code that is supposed to tell me the date of manufacture. They are both Reynolds bias-belted tubeless tires.
I only haul the boat from the lake to my home, and then to storage - less than 50 miles total. I've found information on Goodyear web site about RV tires stating that sitting around and not moving can cause sidewall cracking.
Can anyone out there with tire experience offer any advice? Thanks.
Rich Makela
M-17 #233 - Harmony
participants (6)
-
Conbert Benneck -
Rich Makela -
speedernut2＠gmail.com -
Thomas Buzzi -
Tom Smith -
wcampion＠aol.com