A learning experience!

We spent some time in Florida and meandered up the east coast over the past winter season. Fortunately, our only "on the rode" problem was a tire blow-out. For us, the blow-out was (with hind sight) a beneficial "learning experience." The "zipper" blow-out did not cause any ancillary damage to the coach or the "mating" dually tire. After hearing some re horror stories past along by other RVers, our experience was straight forward with no handling problems or damage. But, what the experience did do is allow us to "tune in" to "what might have or could have" happened.
We paid close attention to the need for tires on our six year old Journey. We planned to get new tires the summer before, however, we didn't Cherish the idea that brand new tires were going to sit through the winter. So, we planned to install new tires, this summer. Our OEM tires were (by the date on the sidewall) seven years old. As many of you have come to learn, RV tires should really be changed out by the sixth year of their side wall date. Our tires were marked 2002 and the coach is a 2003. True, tire manufacturers will typically warranty a tire when it goes into service. What a purchaser of a new RV needs to consider is how long the tire sat on the chassis in a lot waiting for the body to be installed! Hence, that's why I say our tires were seven years old. The RV adage to go by is, "RV tires typically "dry-rot" out before they wear out!"
A month ago we had all new tires installed on our coach.
A conversation with a fellow RVer led us to our next purchase based on our "blow-out" experience. At a State Rally we had "Chip" of Rally's-R-Us install a "Safe-T-Plus" steering control on our coach.
The combination of new tires and the "Safe-T-Plus" will help relieve some of the many concerns we (and any RVer) must consider each time you take a "big" rig over the road.
May all your journeys be scenic, safe and filled with memories.
Dave