BillandKathy
Member
While on our way to a CG in NE PA on Friday we had an eye-opening experience. On the NE Extension of the PA Turnpike (I-476) we had a tire failure. The Duro tire on the right rear disintegrated. I heard an unusual sound and so did Kathy. She looked back and saw the tire coming apart. I immediately pulled onto the shoulder (less than 1/10th of a mile going by the markers). We have AAA with the RVPlus, and they were there in 20 minutes with the Allstate Emergency Response unit. The shoulder there was only 10 feet wide and I gotta say it was a nerve wracking wait for help. The service guy said if it had been a left tire we would need the State Police to close the highway. After the tire was changed we continued to the CG (closer than going back home) praying another tire wouldn’t blow (Read all of the posts concerning this issue).
After we got to the CG we took another look at the tires. Two of the remaining 3 tires had visible cracks. Before we left the storage facility we checked the tires and they looked OK. I would not have attempted the trip if they didn’t after reading all the bad reports on the Duro tires.
We did not want to drive home with the remaining Duro tires we have on the NT, especially without a spare. We’re lucky the CG we’re at has an RV dealer next door and we are able to replace the tires, but they only have 3 tires in stock so we have to have to wait until the order for the 4th tire is filled. We planned on leaving the CG on Monday but have to extend to Tuesday to wait for the 4th tire. This would not have been a problem except that Kathy has to be back at work on Tuesday and that of course won’t be possible.
The final tally for this trip will be 4 new tires, 1 new wheel (now), a new chrome wheel that has to be ordered to replace the one destroyed by the blowout (can’t be reused), right rear side marker, extra night at the CG (lucky it was available because of the race next week at Pocono) and Kathy having to use vacation time. All in all a very expensive 3 day weekend.
The tires on the NT have about 5000 miles including this trip and we have had the NT only 22 months. I don’t understand why Heartland would let such an inferior tire be placed on an otherwise outstanding TT.
We have no complaints with the trailer. We’ve been very happy with every aspect of this trailer but very disappointed with what happened with the tires.
We plan on upgrading soon to a larger RV but if Heartland continues using inferior tires they will not be our choice.
Also posted on the North Trail Talk forum.
After we got to the CG we took another look at the tires. Two of the remaining 3 tires had visible cracks. Before we left the storage facility we checked the tires and they looked OK. I would not have attempted the trip if they didn’t after reading all the bad reports on the Duro tires.
We did not want to drive home with the remaining Duro tires we have on the NT, especially without a spare. We’re lucky the CG we’re at has an RV dealer next door and we are able to replace the tires, but they only have 3 tires in stock so we have to have to wait until the order for the 4th tire is filled. We planned on leaving the CG on Monday but have to extend to Tuesday to wait for the 4th tire. This would not have been a problem except that Kathy has to be back at work on Tuesday and that of course won’t be possible.
The final tally for this trip will be 4 new tires, 1 new wheel (now), a new chrome wheel that has to be ordered to replace the one destroyed by the blowout (can’t be reused), right rear side marker, extra night at the CG (lucky it was available because of the race next week at Pocono) and Kathy having to use vacation time. All in all a very expensive 3 day weekend.
The tires on the NT have about 5000 miles including this trip and we have had the NT only 22 months. I don’t understand why Heartland would let such an inferior tire be placed on an otherwise outstanding TT.
We have no complaints with the trailer. We’ve been very happy with every aspect of this trailer but very disappointed with what happened with the tires.
We plan on upgrading soon to a larger RV but if Heartland continues using inferior tires they will not be our choice.
Also posted on the North Trail Talk forum.
