Not sure how to handle this.

I've never seen the tread separate from the casing on a virgin tire. Since I quit running recaps I've had one blow out- the sidewall let go & I thing that was from a funky plug type patch repair.

140 K on a set of new Michelin XTE wide singles on a spread axle curtain van. Backing into a lot of tight docks & running a fair amount of roller coaster 2 lane roads.

 

From Love's website,road service is $1.20 per mile from the time they leave till they return,then $99.00 per hour plus $34.99 for changing the tire. Did you try to see if there was a local shop or did you just call Loves? I have to agree with skateboardman,i would have tried to ease on,that is my opinion

 

This is what happens when you get a flat on a drive tire under load, get it fixed then go on your happy way. You can actually see where it's starting to tear the tread from the sidewall.

 

recaps are ok. if the quality is good. and you make sure to keep them aired up. they don't blow much in the winter time.

don't think i'd want to run them on a spread axle though. my first otr company spent a lot of money on used and recaps. too stupid to by virgins.
virgins might cost more but over time, they're cheaper then constantly replacing caps, and sometimes road calls.

 

I run dynamic balance media in my drives and really like it. I've said it 100 times and will say it again my drives are Goodyear unicirlce caps on my own Yoko casings. So far 45,000 miles and wearing very good. Nothing funky. Really impressed. About 20,000 miles ago I picked up a small bolt in one of those drive tires at a shipper in the Chicago area. On a 45,000 lb load that ran down to TN over 500 miles.

I didn't catch it until the next morning at the receiver it was flat and the bead was broken. I'm guessing it went flat within 100 miles of leaving the shipper. Really pissed me off that I didn't catch it when I stopped for fuel about half way in the trip. But anyways I went home after delivery and fixed it. All the balance media was gone, no surprise there, I put another bag in there. I was concerned that the tire was compromised, wouldn't last, and would blow on the first hot day, heavy load. Plus the shoulders were cornered a little on it and another concern was the tread would wear down like a pencil eraser in short order due to the cornering.

Well, so far it has held up knock on wood. And it's not wearing like a pencil eraser either. I read somewhere that balance media in tires cause them to run cooler. Not sure if that's the case or not. But heat is what destroys tires. And running down the road like that at almost 80,000 lbs definitely did that tire no favors but 99.9% of the time I take very good care of my tires.

In general I agree with you once a tire has been thru what I put mine thru it's more than likely going to fail. And when I saw mine flat that was the first thoughts going thru my head. I would think some of the hot days, heavy loads, and high speeds of the last 20,000 miles it would have already blown. Been expecting it. But so far it hasn't.

I think maybe that is due to the extreme caution I take to always avoid curbing my tractor tires. And when it happens with the trailer on the times I screw up I make sure I ease over a curb or beside one slowly. I see guys trying to back into docks riding their steers up on curbs makes me cringe to think. Or dragging a 45,000lb loaded trailer's tires over an 8" curb at 15mph or faster. Maybe I'm just lucky but I've never had a virgin tire failure and in the 3 years I've had my own combination never had any recaps fail either, knock on wood.

Have several tires with patches/repairs including one that had a section repair before I had it recapped.

 

Full scope of the moment. I had a load of honey bees. 70 plus degrees. It was sunny and I happened to have this flat tire. While sitting an isolated rain storm/cloud passed over me. Keeping my load alive. I did not want to drive back into the sun.
Also the tire that went bad was a recap. The tire paired with it also was a recap.
Problem. Do I stay put under clouds keeping bees alive. Chance driving closer to a truck stop to save a couple bucks and maybe blow out the other tire in route. The Loves did not have a tire to fit my rims.
Did I mention it was a Sunday.
I have milked a blow tire to a repair shop with a load on. Did it just the other day in Chicago. 5 miles to unload 48,000# of rail. Sidewall ruptured on inside duel sidewall front axle of trailer. Then I drove another 10 to get replaced. $150 each for 2 tires. $412 both tires installed. New/used take offs. Still had the rubber nubs on tire. Roadmaster brand. I have tried. Dunlop. Goodyear. Hankook. GTI. Samson. You name it I have tried them all. NOne last very well.
This spring I had both axles replaced hoping that will help. SO far not really.

 

Ok,fair enough the situation you were explains things a little better.

 

A torque multiplier and 10 ton bottle jack would be handy to have in the sidebox.