Ok folks I have two issues that was hoping to get input from your vast knowledge.

Last week I had a tire blow out while driving. Not a big deal as I thought I may have ran over something. The tires are 5 years old but have a lot of tread still on them. We are not full timers and don't travel a lot (maybe 500 miles a year).
My RW was only 2 years old when I bought it in 2015. I am assuming the Goodyear Marathon tires that were on it were original from the factory. I had my tire replaced with another Goodyear tire but was told the Marathon series was no longer available. I like to have my tires match (OCD) but thought no big deal.

So this week we are driving when a different tire blows on the freeway. I take it to the tire shop and they checked the two remaining tires and said one was separating. He showed me the bow in the tire and said it would go out too. I ended up replacing all four with 14 ply tires, and had the other tire I bought last week put on the spare since the spare was also a Marathon tire.

Anyone else have any issues with the Goodyear Marathon tires? The tire shop said they had seen several problems come in with them. Maybe a sales pitch but it is a business who has lots of stores and I value their opinion.

My other question.....does anyone know where I can find a replacement skirt for my RW? When the tire blew it completely tore the skirt away from the siding leaving pieces of it strewn about the highway. Is there a RW or 5th wheel boneyard that may have used skirts? Or I can buy a new one if I know where to go.

Thanks for the help.

First off, Welcome to the RW family!
Second, rv tires will age out long before the tread wears out. Five years is about max on most before they start cracking.
Your original Marathons were most likely "E" rated tires that weren't enough tire for your RW to begin with & hence their nickname "China bombs", not if they'll blow up, but when.
If you haven't replaced all tires yet, do so ASAP with at least a "G" rated tire minimum & if you want to eliminate tire worries almost completely upgrade to "17.5" H rated tires & wheels.
Your GY dealer should have informed you that GY will pay for your rv skirting damages if it was the Marathons blowing up that caused the damage.
Either GY "G" rated tires or Sailun "G" or "H" rated tires are both good choices.

I have to agree with Danny on this one, The E rated trailer tires are ALL JUNK. bare none! I had a E rated that was 17 months old bay date codes explode on my equipment trailer running at 65 mph and with in the rated load. Shortly after that tire got swapped out I noticed the side walls of the other 3 getting bumps in them from broken cords. Put goodyear 614 on the same trailer and same load , they are now 6 years old and need changed but no blow outs , no dry rot. stick with G rated 614 or the sailun 637 . your problem is solved.

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Nov 07, 2017 ABC News Article:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95075&page=1

E-Rated tires are 10 ply tires. Less in the side wall.

G-Rated tires are 12 ply.

H-Rated tires are 14 ply.

Interesting I was working on the RW today to install brass bushings in the springs and noticed my Sailun 637 G tires are 14 ply - at least it says "14 P.R." then "4 ply steel tread, 1 ply steel sidewall". It is a very heavy tire.

G rated are 14 ply
H rated are 16 ply
If you're talking about replacement for the J panel damage it's aluminum not plastic, the wheel opening trim is plastic.
I made a bone head mistake & damaged the J panel from just in front of the street side slide to almost the rear of the slide. The body shop doing the repair had a heck of a time getting Crossroads/Keystone to get parts for the repair, not sure where they finally acquired them but took 3+ weeks.

Thank you everyone for all the responses. I knew you would know the answers.

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