[A/S] Re: Trauma on I-40

["Manuel Ferro" <bonnuit@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hunter 

I am glad you are fine.  Too bad you had to go through that bad 
experience.  The new Michelins will be good.  I have had Michelins 
in most of my vehicles over the years, and do not recall ever having 
a problem with them.  Any tire can get a nail in it though.

It is funny but we also had a blowout this past weekend.  Coming 
back from the Florida Keys this past Monday early afternoon one of 
the (2 year old) Towmasters in the Airstream blew out.  Some light 
damage to the wheel well area.  Except for a loud "pop" I would have 
never known I had a blown tire.

I had to call Good Sam for someone to come out and change the tire.  
I had a spare and had changed another tire (a flat) on another 
occassion.  However, the way the Airstream is built the tire rim of 
the blown tire did not hit the ground  (which is very good:  it 
allowed me to drive a safe distance to a stop)  When I went to 
change it I could not get it to stop rotating freely, even by 
turning on the electric brakes with my wife putting both her feet on 
the GMC Yukon XL brakes.  So I had no way to excert enough pressure 
to remove the wheel nuts.  They came out and did the job for me.  
Good thing I had a spare.  

When I had the flat before, the tire was intact so I was able to use 
the brake we use when we park the trailer to stop the tire rotating 
and I was able to do the job myself.  Cant do that when there is no 
tire there.  :):)

The second Towmaster on the same side was removed for a puncture 
repair and was found to have an internal bubble.  The Towmasters on 
the left side appear to be OK.  I have to think about what to do 
about this situation re: tire replacement.  These are relatively new 
tires.  And Towmasters appears to have better reputation than 
Goodyear Marathon and some others.

On your $882 bill.  I once spent $500 to take off and replace 
Firestones from a Mercury Mountaineer I used to own.  That was 
before the Firestone recall because one of my Firestones developed a 
problem where the cord became visible.  Had I waited I would have 
been reimbursed later, but I got rid of the old tires.  I thought my 
life was worth $500 then.  

I am keeping the Towmasters until I decide what to do next.

\Think of yourself as too cute to die.  And well worth $882

M.Ferro
1983 Excella 31
2003 Yukon XL
Hensley hitch