In this article, we will clarify the following question: Why do my trailer tires keep blowing out? We will explain the common reasons why your trailer tires keep blowing out and how to manage and prevent it!
Why do my trailer tires keep blowing out?
There are many possibilities why your trailer tires keep blowing out, but the most common reason is always the result of heat build-up. Typically, a crack in a tire and its tear results from improper use or wear. The most common reasons are:
- a pipe with too low air pressure (75% of cases);
- a collision with a hard or sharp object (stone, brick, bottle, etc.);
- overloading the vehicle which leads to overheating of the tires;
- air pressure greater than the range of values provided by the manufacturer;
- excessive wear or duration of use;
- a manufacturing defect – usually revealed within the first thousand kilometres driven;
- driving with a failure of the braking system causing the wheel to overheat.
The explosion of a tire on a steering axle in a loaded delivery vehicle, motorhome, bus, truck or semi-trailer with a trailer almost always results in loss of control and can be particularly dangerous. The profile height of the tire worsens the inclination of the vehicle, the large mass of which increases the pulling force to the side.
Every tire failure is very dangerous, no matter which axle it is mounted on! You will feel the burst of the front tire like a strong jerk pulling the steering wheel. You will feel the tire burst behind through the seat cushion. The rear of the vehicle will be thrown sharply or the car will begin to behave as on an icy surface.
WARNING! The bursting of a tire on a truck or semi-trailer is also a great danger to other road users. The torn tire (usually inflated to a pressure of 8.5 to 9 bar) is torn into fragments that are thrown a great distance with considerable force. They can sometimes even smash the floor of the cabin.
What to do if my trailer tires are blowing out?
In order not to be caught off guard with your trailer tires bursting up, it helps to practice safe driving techniques from time to time. You will thus acquire the reflexes necessary to control a driveway from the rear of the vehicle or to regain control of the front axle which tends to deviate from your path. After a tire burst, you have to act quickly and you don’t have time to think.
With one hand, a steering wheel that comes off suddenly is much more difficult to hold, even for a brief moment. Remember that only a firm grip on the steering wheel and a correct position on the seat will allow you to control the car in an emergency. Failure to follow these rules significantly delays your response and may result in complete loss of vehicle control.
After the tire bursts, stay calm. Many passenger cars, even at high speeds, manage to maintain their balance (especially those with low profile tires). For this to be the case, however, you must not make any sudden movements. If you want to stop safely, follow the instructions below.
- Release the accelerator pedal gently – sudden withdrawal of the leg can cause the vehicle to lurch.
- Do not step on the brake pedal – we usually try to stop the vehicle by reflex, but this is a very big mistake: the forces that pull the vehicle aside and destabilize it may increase.
- If you are in control of the vehicle, let it slow down gradually – you can start to brake gently from 40 to 50 km/h.
- After a tire burst on the front axle, you can apply the handbrake carefully, but only when the handbrake operates only on the rear wheels! Thanks to this, you can shift part of the mass to the rear and take the load off the front axle.
If you can’t control the vehicle in any way – accelerate, if you accelerate your car’s movements are less abrupt. In this case, the tensile forces exerted from side to side are countered, reducing the effort required to hold the steering wheel.
It is optimal to speed up immediately after the burst in order to control the most serious problems. After the vehicle has accelerated and stabilized, gradually release the accelerator pedal so that the car stops on its own.
The difficulty of the task is to overcome the psyche that prompts you to immediately stop in a dangerous situation. Once you manage to safely lose speed, make sure the car is stopped in a safe place and properly signal it with the warning triangle as part of the vehicle’s mandatory equipment.
Other questions you may be interested in
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Trailer tires keep blowing out – how to prevent it?
Correctly used tires are a guarantee of safety and longevity. To do this, please follow a few rules:
- Check the tire pressure regularly. At least once a week, before each long trip and after a significant drop in ambient temperature, for example after the passage of the atmospheric front. For those who travel long distances, this implies a daily check.
- If you hit a hard object or roll into a pothole, at the first opportunity, examine the tires under each seam. Check for scratches or blisters on the side, which would indicate that the carcass of the tire sustained a tear.
- Avoid driving on sidewalks. If you must drive as slowly as possible.
- Do not park the car with the wheels pressed against the sidewalk.
- You can inflate the tires with nitrogen. This reduces air pressure variations due to differences in outside temperature and tire temperature when riding.
The explosion may be preceded by an unexplained air leak dating back several days. An impending tire blowout can be spotted by the increasing level of vibration and an increase in tire temperature during use, even if the pressure is correct.
The bottom line
Maintaining a travel trailer is not easy and time-consuming, of course. But, this vehicle allows you to live pleasant moments in the company of those who are dear to you, whether in your hometown or abroad. It is reasonable for you to take care of it!
A travel trailer can last up to 10 years, on average. However, the lifespan of a vehicle can vary considerably taking into account some essential aspects such as: how often you drive it if you live full-time in the trailer or not, if you do regular annual maintenance, if you take precautions when parking it long-term and in time what are you on the road.
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FAQ on Why do my trailer tires keep blowing out?
What are the worst travel trailers to buy?
The following are considered the worst travel trailers to buy:
- Hurricane.
- Coachmen.
- Jayco.
- Coleman.
- Keystone.
- Winnebago.
- Fleetwood.
What is the most reliable travel trailer brand?
The most reliable travel trailer brands are:
- Airstream.
- Winnebago.
- Forest River.
- Jayco.
- Keystone.
- Oliver.
- Happier Camper.
Do travel trailers hold their value?
Travel trailers do hold their value longer than RVs or caravans. A travel trailer can hold its value between five and 15 years, more or less regularly.
Which brand is better, Michelin or Pirelli?
The Pirelli work the same as the Michelin, but the touch is more inert and therefore less attractive. The third fastest are the Dunlops. Effective, although not very pleasant: it is best to ignore the squeaks and the soft steering feel and mistreat them to get through all the vertices.
