They don't call'em China bombs for nuthin'

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 03:39 PM

The attached photos of my never used spare tire on the back of my 2018 Keystone Passport Ultralite. I just noticed it today. It is a Trailer King ST205/75R14 with the year 2017 on it. I had replaced the others with Goodyear tires earlier this year because one of them blew up in use at a campground. Never ever buy Trailer King tires!

**sourdough** · 09-07-2021, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the post and photos. BTDT with TK tires. Now a few will tell you they are good tires and the only failures come from owner abuse...underinflation, overloading, road damage etc. etc. Guess those excuses don't really "fit" a self destructing TK on the spare rack as has happened before.

As a note though; IMO if it's time to replace the tires on an RV (3 years or so) replace them all (spare too) due to just this kind of situation. Glad you found it before you needed it.

foldbak · 09-07-2021, 04:23 PM

Is that aired up?

if so run and put a bullet in it.

jasin1 · 09-07-2021, 04:33 PM

That only happened because it was a spare tire and not rotating…. All the air rose to the top …likely wouldn’t have happened if you spun it around every now and then

jasin1 · 09-07-2021, 04:35 PM

Seriously though…. (cough,clears throat) was the spare covered with a vinyl cover? I seem to recall another exploding TK tire that was covered…no excuse for the tire just wondering

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 04:38 PM

Why didn't I think of that? LOL.

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Seriously though…. (cough,clears throat) was the spare covered with a vinyl cover? I seem to recall another exploding TK tire that was covered…no excuse for the tire just wondering

Yes! It was covered and always was. I was changing the cover to an American Flag designed vinyl cover and that's when I saw it.

Ken / Claudia · 09-07-2021, 04:49 PM

Spares rot just like the rolling tires maybe even faster. I have been reading about spares never used mounted on bumpers blowing up for over a decade.

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

Spares rot just like the rolling tires maybe even faster. I have been reading about spares never used mounted on bumpers blowing up for over a decade.

Ok. Not me. First I ever heard of it and first it ever happened to me.

jasin1 · 09-07-2021, 04:58 PM

I found this on a jeep accessories site..I also found that some plastic and vinyl covers do not stop UV rays from getting to the tire…I am not saying that TK tires are good tires I’m just trying to figure out the exploding spare mystery

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

I found this on a jeep accessories site..I also found that some plastic and vinyl covers do not stop UV rays from getting to the tire…I am not saying that TK tires are good tires I’m just trying to figure out the exploding spare mystery

The photo of the jeep tire shows it to be cracked, probably from the sun. My TK spare tire looks new with no cracking as it's been kept covered with the Keystone vinyl cover that came with the travel trailer when I bought it. The spare appears to have blown up inside. Incidently, the one I replaced that was mounted on the trailer and in use back in April 2021 also blew up from inside. These TK tires ONLY LASTED 4 YEARS...and I kept them inflated, etc. I did not abuse them.

jasin1 · 09-07-2021, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deer30084

The photo of the jeep tire shows it to be cracked, probably from the sun. My TK spare tire looks new with no cracking as it's been kept covered with the Keystone vinyl cover that came with the travel trailer when I bought it. The spare appears to have blown up inside. Incidently, the one I replaced that was mounted on the trailer and in use back in April 2021 also blew up from inside.

I understand…it’s hard for me not to try and find an answer to problems or at least an explanation of what could have contributed…I find it hard to just shrug my shoulders and not think about it..it’s helpful at times and irritating at others …at least there was no damage…I have to replace mine as well

jasin1 · 09-07-2021, 05:10 PM

Ok last one. Can you hold the cover over your head and see if there are any pinholes in it? That could concentrate the heat or UV rays to one spot…the tire just keeps getting heated up in one place instead of evenly like when it’s rotating while driving

deer30084 · 09-07-2021, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

Ok last one. Can you hold the cover over your head and see if there are any pinholes in it? That could concentrate the heat or UV rays to one spot…the tire just keeps getting heated up in one place instead of evenly like when it’s rotating while driving

Tomorrow. The deformity was on top as the tire was mounted on the spare tire rack, so excessive Florida summer heat could have been a contributing factor. But, I wouldn't expect that from a quality name brand tire.

**flybouy** · 09-07-2021, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

That only happened because it was a spare tire and not rotating…. All the air rose to the top …likely wouldn’t have happened if you spun it around every now and then

Should that be on the same schedule as rotating wine bottles to keep the cork wet?

gearhead · 09-07-2021, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deer30084

Yes! It was covered and always was. I was changing the cover to an American Flag designed vinyl cover and that's when I saw it.

Apparently it took great offense of being covered by the American flag.

**flybouy** · 09-07-2021, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Apparently it took great offense of being covered by the American flag.

I'll bet the flag was made in the same country as the tire was.

..

Ken / Claudia · 09-07-2021, 07:25 PM

I never read of a reason why they blow up, but heat was a possible one. Most of the people posting were in the southwest. Some where stored facing the south, ie sun. Most had covers on them.
The sun cooked the front of my trailer that is parked facing south. The decals are all cracked, the filon has waves across the top 1/3 and no water leaks did it.
I use the IR thermometer and measure the rv sides facing the sun in 100 f outside air temps to be 140 f and it could be the high heats reflecting off the rv outside walls a cause. That's all guessing, but another reason I store the RV spare when not traveling in the garage. When traveling in the truck bed.
Anyway 3 to 5 years ST tires on the ground or hung on the bumper rot from the inside out and should be replaced. Crappie ones faster than better ones.

gearhead · 09-07-2021, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

I'll bet the flag was made in the same country as the tire was.

..

Yeah, probably.

deer30084 · 09-08-2021, 03:15 AM

Obviously, my post has lured the TK defenders out of the woodwork. Whaddya think Jasin1?

TK tires blow up because of poor construction and poor materials. It has nothing to do with UV, pinholes in the cover, rotation, inflation, etc. They are probably made by child slave labor in China. The defenders of TK tires here are probably TK employees, importers of TK tires or Keystone decision makers who chose China bombs to mount on new travel trailers to "get more bang for their buck." (pun intended) None of my Goodyear, BF Goodrich, Bridgestone or Firestone tires ever blew up. There's a reason travel trailer manufacturers put China bombs on new units. Money.

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