Horsebox Tyre Blowout

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icestationzebra

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Had a blowout yesterday and it was quite frightening. Luckily we were going very steady as I sensed something wasn't quite right.

First experience of this - is it common? Is there anything you can do to guard against it happening again?

thanks :)
 
I've had that happen to me on the motorway soon after I got my lorry.

Really scary, but ultimately gave me lots of confidence driving the truck, as I knew that if I could hold it with a blowout at 50mph then I was going to be OK!

My mechanic says its more common if you don't use the vehicle much as the tyres degrade when its left standing for long periods. But basically the usual, keep it maintained, check the tyre pressures and treds regularly, and look out for cracks in the tyre walls.

I also found out that my recovery company would only change a wheel if you had a spare, and wouldn't repair a tyre at the side of the road. Got a spare after that!

Glad no-one was hurt.
 
Keep the tyre pressure checked and correctly inflated even if you're not using the vehicle. Move it regularly so the same side of the tyre isn't sat in the same space all the time - if it deflates with standing this causes pressure in spots it isn't designed for, and therfore a weekness is more liekly to occur. If parked where it gets the sun (or extremes of weather), cover the wheel so the sun isn't shining directly on the rubber.
 
We have had three - all scary but luckily all at the back where there are two tyres so much easier to control. We always carry spares now as we do everything possible to avoid them. One was particularly bad as the tyre completely de-laminated and as it came off it took out all the electrics at the back of the lorry, so no lights/ brake lights/ indicators. Then a poor woman came along and hit a piece of the wire which punctured her fuel tank. There was a rolling road block put in place to clear all the debris. All rather dramatic!!!
 
happened to me not long after getting my lorry. Near side front blew out and shredded itself whilst doing 58mph on the M1 in middle of winter and rush hour.
Within 2 minutes the traffic cops were on the scene. Apparently they followed the debris. :o They couldn't believe I'd managed to keep the truck straight as no tyre left on rim.

As others have said, leaving truck standing for long periods causes problems. Also running with tyres below recommeded pressure is a major contributor as they generate far more heat when below pressure. Touch wood it hasn't happened again in the 4 years we've had the truck.
 
icestationzebra said:
Had a blowout yesterday and it was quite frightening. Luckily we were going very steady as I sensed something wasn't quite right.

First experience of this - is it common? Is there anything you can do to guard against it happening again?

thanks :)
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yes as other posts said low presure is the main cause of blow outs overloading, and age of tyres is also a factor.. if you dont know how old they are or they are 5 years old or more its not a bad idea to replace them yes its expensive but may save you a nasty accident!!!!
 
Also had the misfortune of a blowout but it was one of the doubles at the back and we were going slowly on a country road so that was lucky. I turned into a farm yard because the lane we were on was too narrow. Luckily the farmer was extremely understanding, not only did he allow us to wait for recovery there, but he also let us turn the horses in a small paddock while the tyre was changed (the machine used (to do up the bolts?) makes a horrific racket and the box is up on three wheels anyway so doing it with the horses in there would have been very dangerous)!!!! We went back later that day with a big bottle of wine and flowers!
 
Thanks everyone!

I do check tyre pressure and all my tyres are in really good condition - but when I bought my lorry it had been standing for some length of time as it was an unfinished project. I think that the tyres had been underinflated and allowed to degrade. We are definately going to do a thorough check on the others. Luckily we had a spare on.

Next question - how much are new tyres! (7.5t)

Thanks everyone. The recovery chap was excellent and managed to change our wheel at the side of the road with my horse on board. All quite stressful to be honest! Was very glad to get home!
 
yep I had front tyre passenger side go whilst at about 55mph on the M5!

Scary but didn't brake so was able to keep it straight, even with literally no tyre on the rim. (tyre ended up couple hundred metres behind us, and part of the rim ended up several hundred metres infront!)

It was days before highways agency so spent 6ish hours on the hard shoulder until finally got tyre changed, losing our driver side wing mirror to a lorry during that time. (scary when mirror only stuck out a matter of inches!!)
 
I've had a couple, both on the motorway, the drivers side front, which required the slow lane of the motorway to be coned off to replace, and the inside of the nearside back, which was quite scarey as the jack the chap used was tiny, supporting all my horses weight! Then the machine that they use to undo and do up the bolt is really loud, scared my poor horse!

How does everyone check the pressure on their 7.5 tonnes? I don't know how to apart from take it to a garage?
 
I've had 2, both fronts. Your recovery should change the tyre, ours did. Anthony Evans Insurance. Does cost a fortune though. We will be getting a spare now though, buggered the power steering pipe when it blew last time, on the way to Newmarket to pick up yougster. It cost a lot!!
 
icestationzebra said:
Thanks everyone!

I do check tyre pressure and all my tyres are in really good condition - but when I bought my lorry it had been standing for some length of time as it was an unfinished project. I think that the tyres had been underinflated and allowed to degrade. We are definately going to do a thorough check on the others. Luckily we had a spare on.

Next question - how much are new tyres! (7.5t)

Thanks everyone. The recovery chap was excellent and managed to change our wheel at the side of the road with my horse on board. All quite stressful to be honest! Was very glad to get home!
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New tyres say 215,75. 17.5 are around £120 for a good make
which you want on the front, you could get away with remoulds on the back however i wouldnt fit them on my lorry!!! new tyres all round if your going to keep it is a very good investment in safety and reliability...
 
Tread wear is no guide to tyre condition on a horsebox. Most will blow out long before they are worn out. And dont rely on the MOT inspection as a guide to tyre condition,they miss an awful lot of tyre problems.
 
brighteyes said:
A handy piece of kit known as a husband.
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Oh no, I use a handy piece of kit known as Alistair Who Looks After The Lorry :D

When I had a blow out down in Navan a couple of years ago, I rang Alistair and he rang a mate of his in Navan who came and changed the tyre in the middle of an enormous puddle, and only charged me for the new tyre:):)

TBH lorry tyres blow out all the time regardless of maintenance - all the big lorries undergo regular checks and tyres still go:( Mine is well maintained and in almost daily use. Having said that, lorries that stand around for long periods tend to have the greater problems. Pretty scary when it happens though.
 
QR
I would be careful buying from a scrappy. You don't know what it has been on previously and how much unseen damage has been done to the tyre.

As we tell customers, its the only thing between you and the road. IMO safety is imperative.
 
Rowreach said:
Oh no, I use a handy piece of kit known as Alistair Who Looks After The Lorry :D

When I had a blow out down in Navan a couple of years ago, I rang Alistair and he rang a mate of his in Navan who came and changed the tyre in the middle of an enormous puddle, and only charged me for the new tyre:):)

TBH lorry tyres blow out all the time regardless of maintenance - all the big lorries undergo regular checks and tyres still go:( Mine is well maintained and in almost daily use. Having said that, lorries that stand around for long periods tend to have the greater problems. Pretty scary when it happens though.
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No truck tyres dont blow out all the time!!!
remolds and knackerd ones that have been recut, old, underinflated, overloaded or hitting something on the road will blow out ....good tyres maintained at the correct pressure are
very unlikely to fail...
 
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