QuestionQUESTION: I have had 3 successive tread separations on the right rear of my 1999 Chevy Express Van 3500. I scrupulously keep the pressure at 80 psi, the recommended value. The first to fail was Firestone, then Cooper, then Goodyear. Each about 2.5 years life. The exhaust pipe is nearby, but I have cannot feel any temperature difference between tires after driving. No odd treadwear of any kind; tread in near perfect shape. This can't be coincidence. What could possibly be causing this?
ANSWER: Raul,
What do you use this vehicle for?
Have you ever weighed this van when you are carrying a load?
Why are you sure that the pressure is 80 psi. When did you last check the gauge?
How about speed?
Is it possible that you are damaging the tire by running over curbs, or getting cuts, or some other road related damage?
Oh, and just to be sure. Many folks misdiagnose tread separations. Please describe what the tire looks like after it has separated.
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QUESTION: Vehicle is for family use on out-of town trips. Never weighed it because I have never carried a load. Only had people in all the seats once. I check the guage before each trip. Pressure was checked before each tire failure. Same day in 2 cases, previous day in the other. Could be road related damage, but why only the right rear? Never had any problem with any other tire, not even a flat. Twice the tread came off and this last time the tire became deformed to produce shimmy at high speed and bumpy at very low speed. Goodyear said it was a separation and gave me a pro-rated replacement (>60% original tread present). I usually drive about 65, but have had it up to 75.
AnswerPaul,
OK, it looks like you've got the failure description right, so let's move to the next item.
Is it possible that the tires are not LT tires - that they had the letter "P" in front of the tire size? This is a common misfitment. Another way to ask this question is: Did you get the tires from a local retailer or mailorder them?
The right rear position is the most common place for tires to fail. It is suspected - but not confirmed - that the right rear is the position most likely to hit a curb or run off the road surface because on a right turn, this position travels a smaller turning circle that the front.
BTW, how do you check the pressure gauge?
When you checked the pressures, did you have to add air? How much? Remember that tires don't forget they were underinflated - and you can reinflate a damaged tire and it will fail anyway.
