Survived my first blow out

[Scott Forman]

While traveling north on I-65 Friday near Bowling Green, KY, I had an
explosive tire failure on my right front tire at about 70mph. Quite
the harrowing experience, I assure you. A bang unlike any I have ever
heard. Once I got the coach secured and stood up, I was shaking.

I followed the instructions I learned here about accelerating to
stabilize the coach, and was able to coast down to the shoulder. If
you have never read anything about how to do this, please do, it may
save your life.

I have to say that I am impressed with the way the coach handled it.
She really didn't even get very twitchey until very low speed as I
pulled over. There was no damage to any other components in the
wheel area.

3.5 hours later, I was back underway on a new tire. FMCA Coach Net
is a God send.

The tire was a Michelin XZE 12R 22.5 dated 2003. It had zero visible
signs of weathering or wear and I verified inflation before leaving
that morning. The tire was so completely destroyed that it was no
use trying to inspect it to determine what may have caused the
failure. I may have picked up something that bled out air or it may
have just failed from age...I guess 5 years is getting up to the
limit. A Firestone is on there now, it seemed to be the only 12R
22.5 tire in the state of KY.

This is an example of the value of this forum, if I had never found
this place I probably wouldn't have known what to do when the tire
failed and may have ended up in the ditch.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis...Huntington, WV today to see my Tigers play Marshall