Rettroband Aims to Prevent RV Crashes Caused by Tire Blowouts
The fear of RV crashes due to tire blowouts and failures on a motorhome has kept many an RVer awake at night. Motorhome owners carefully and frequently weigh their motorhomes to determine the correct tire pressure required for all tires, especially those two in front. We rely on tire pressure monitoring systems to keep us apprised of both tire pressure and temperature. We inspect motorhome tires frequently and are instructed to replace them based on age, long before any significant tread wear is shown.
We do all of these things because a steer tire blowout is the scariest event we can imagine and hope to never experience. When a catastrophic blowout on a motorhome’s steer tire occurs, all air evacuates instantly, and up to 10,500 pounds per wheel (the most your aluminum wheel is typically rated) comes crashing down hard on the rim, which in turn shreds the tire and causes the wheel to grip the pavement, jerking the coach violently left or right depending on which tire blew.
Even if you are able to keep your RV on the road or close to it, and right-side up, RV damage due to a shredded tire can be extensive as well as expensive. Rettroband, exclusively distributed by National Indoor RV Centers, aims to prevent and eliminate dangerous RV crashes that are due to a steer tire blowout.
What is Rettroband?
Rettroband wheel enhancement is a stainless steel-reinforced solid rubber tire mounted directly on the center of your RV’s front wheels, inside the airspace your RV tire uses. It is, in effect, a tire inside your tire. Rettrobands are installed on the two front motorhome tires, known as the steer tires, of your Class C or Class A motorhome. Rettroband is essentially a run-flat device designed to eliminate RV crashes caused by a steer tire blowout.
The American TV show Pimp My Ride, popular from 2004–2007, frequently used an expression that is often parodied in various internet memes, which have taken on a life of their own. All 74 episodes featured a similar hook: “We heard you like X, so we added an X to your vehicle.” If we were to apply that logic to the latest iteration of Rettroband, we might sum it up in a similar way: We heard you like driving your RV, so we put a tire inside your tire!
This “inner tire”, or Rettroband, has proven to do the difficult task of not coming apart when the coach suddenly drops due to a tire blowout and instantly hits the Rettroband device with up to 10,500 pounds, moving along at highway speeds. It also needs to keep the rim from hitting the ground and shredding the tire, giving you time to pull over to safety.
How does the Rettroband help prevent RV crashes?
In the event of a total loss of air pressure, instead of your RV riding on the tire-shredding edges of your expensive aluminum wheel, it drops down to the Rettroband device, which protects your rim and also lessens the chances of a shredded tire carving away at your RV’s fiberglass with every revolution. In addition to the potential cosmetic benefits, the Rettroband dramatically increases the ability to safely steer your motorhome.
This reformulated rubber “tire”, reinforced with steel bands, provides a sufficient, smoothly rotating surface that allows you to maintain control while you get safely off the road, virtually eliminating RV crashes caused by steer tire blowouts. The new rubber formula provides less compression than its polyurethane composite predecessor, keeping your rim higher off the pavement while still maintaining a smooth enough ride to get to safety.
The new Rettroband, which carries a lifetime warranty, is also easier for tire technicians to manage, lending itself to broadening the qualified service technician base. This makes it easier to get serviced in more locations.
How strong is Rettroband?
Rettroband has been tested to withstand a weight of 30,000 pounds per wheel. To help put that in perspective, that’s 60,000 pounds on the front end of your motorhome. A motorcoach such as the $1.6 million dollar Newmar King Air 4531 boasts a front axle rating of 20,000 pounds, about 10k per wheel. As you can see, the Rettroband far exceeds those requirements and is a valuable asset in preventing RV crashes.
Rettroband risks it all in testing
When testing the latest Rettroband, the team at Rettroband, along with the brass at National Indoor RV Centers, headed to a specialized and highly secure, multi-vehicle testing facility in the desert where potential RV crashes can be safely simulated. Armed with a total of eight cameras and a drone, the team didn’t snag an old worn-out gasser from Craigslist for this test…no, they outfitted a brand new 2022 Entegra Cornerstone with a set of Rettroband wheel enhancements.
Again, to put this in perspective…they rigged a diesel motorhome worth between $600,000 and $800,000 to live test a steer tire blowout at 70 miles per hour. Not to be outdone, instead of a helmeted test driver, behind the wheel was none other than Brett Davis, CEO of National Indoor RV Center. Partner and long-time military run-flat guru Rob Craig joined him in the passenger seat.
Rettroband testing results
As you can see from the video, the drivers’ side steer tire is blown remotely at 70 mph. As noted, NIRVC CEO Brett Davis is behind the wheel, and notes that the coach is on cruise control, and his feet are moved away from both the accelerator and brake pedals. If you were to turn the volume down on the video, you would not be able to tell from watching Brett’s face that the tire had blown. Yet beneath that calm facade, Brett admits to being a little nervous, as I’m sure any of us that own a big coach would be.
“Yes, I was nervous. When you take a look at the footage, the test track they have us on…there was no shoulder, whatsoever.”
Brett Davis – National Indoor RV Centers CEO & Rettroband Test Driver
Brett, talking with Angie Morell, goes on to mention in the video that with the four-foot drop on either side of the test road, if they had pulled to either side as in a typical steer tire blowout, the brand new 2022 Entegra Cornerstone would have “rolled immediately”.
The video tells the story very clearly. Watching the tire blowout footage up close at slow motion speed gives you an idea of how quickly and violently the blowout occurs, yet the rim remains undamaged and the motorhome continues to roll true.
We encourage you to watch the entire video, including the installation segment in the latter half of the video, to learn more about Rettroband. In the last quarter of the video, Angie does an excellent job of showing and breaking down additional characteristics of the Rettroband, as compared to military-based run-flat devices.
The best defense against RV crashes
When it comes to preventing RV crashes caused by steer tire blowouts, there is only so much the average RVer can do. In addition to the methods we mentioned initially, a good dose of common sense and driving awareness can go a long way too.
To fill that last gap, however, and to give yourself the ultimate assurance that you are prepared for a worst-case scenario, installing Rettroband is a must.
Where can I buy Rettroband?
Rettroband wheel enhancement devices were invented and developed in part by National Indoor RV Centers, the exclusive retailer of Rettroband. NIRVC has five established metropolitan locations, a new facility in Manassas, VA, and will be moving to their new state of the art facility in Lebanon, Tennessee on December 1st, 2022.
Rettroband fits most sizes of steer tires wheels on motorhomes. To start enjoying your road trips with the piece of mind that Rettroband brings, visit rettroband.com.
I continue to shake my head, what started as a simple safety device years ago to increase the diameter of the steer axle wheels still can not be trusted to holdup to the task. V1 was manufactured from a material that would break apart. Their next attempt was to add a steel band within the same material which thankfully was never produced. The next attempt was a steel band inside a greatly improved material. With this new design it’s weight reportedly went from 27 lbs in version 1 to 42 lbs in the most recent version 2. A 15 pound increase or 55% more than V1. Unfortunately per the manufacturer no change was implemented to the threaded rods/gear box even though the increased weight of 15 lbs from what it was in V1. The 2 threaded rods/gear boxes are relied upon to hold the 2 halves together on the wheel and some of these have resently failed. The manufacturer has stated recently the failures in V1 were do to 3rd party installation errors. Even though they previously admitted some failures were also from installations done by their in house trained technicians. The most recent failures of one of the threaded rods is blamed also on their in house technician. I for one can not buy into installation errors in V1 or V2 but the material used in V1 and what appears to be an undersized threaded Rod/gear box for the weight and other forces in the failure of V2. I for one am 110% in on the idea of this safety device but can not commit to its current design. This is not rocket science and should not be that difficult to keep this “Safety Device” attached to the wheel at highway speeds and road conditions with proper engineering and real world testing. While I am not a fan of Tyron bands due to their complexity to install/remove to my knowledge they have not had any failures and that is where Retrobands need to get ASAP if not sooner. JMO Steve
Where located? Do you have a product for a 331C? Price please?
How about my motorcycle? You know as a truck driver, I had a front tire go flat bragging about how easy it was to handle, but then few years later I had a front tire blow to pieces Jesus glad no one was in the on coming traffic. Big difference in blow out & a tire going flat, big difference. Wish we had them in are big trucks & Motorcycles thanks.
Nice system, but it adds weight to the vehicle. I prefer to inflate the tires with nitrogen and monitor them with a good TPMS system.
How will nitrogen and a monitor system alert you to a sudden blow out?? Just ordered a monitor system for my 2007 Dutch Star.
I think they are in the $3500 to $4500 range for a two wheel set. I don’t know if installation is extra.
I have pull camper, can you put rettroband on front tires of my pickup?
What is the cost per wheel. Shipped to CA in Septmeber . 22.5 rim, need fronts.
What is the price?
Could I use this on my 5th wheel to prevent damage because you know there will most likely be a failure sooner than later, had one on mine in less than 1 year from factory.
Both hands on the wheel at all times. I wanted Retro Bands but NIRVC didn’t have any to install at the time of my service. I had a front passenger side steer tire blowout at 75 mph and had no problem staying in my lane. I released the accelerator and coasted onto the breakdown lane where I made temporary repairs so I could continue homeward. Never drive relaxed with one hand and expect to control any vehicle with a steer tire blowout. I still plan on getting Retro Bands for the times that my wife would be behind the wheel and the rare instance when I remove one had from the wheel to reach for a drink (of water) or coffee. I would hope in the event of another blowout the Retro Band would prevent the massive amount of damage to the wheel well I had without one.
WHAT THE COST OF RETTROBAND AND IT’S FOR ALL 4 WHEEL??
This product should be required on the steer tire of every vehicle in the United States. Especially simi trucks hauling heavy loads. This save so many lives from front tire blowouts.
Would it have been too difficult to post even a few Prices ?
this is a great tire safety thing I raced for many years ,at many of the high speed tracks we had inner liner so if we had a tire failure the inner liner would prevent a major crash .Your device is that type of liner.
good luck we are all interested in safety.
Jerry Winston
Why doesn’t this be an automatic update on ALL MOTORHOMES IF THERE IS SUCH A LACK OF DESIGN AND GRAVE DANGER TO THE OWNERS OF SAID VSHICLE TO HAVE A RECALL AND BE FITTED WITH THIS Upgrade instead of the consumer always having to foot the bill!
Especially in the motorhome world where all the companies prey on the owners being wealthy all the dam time!.
This seems to be a defect in design in regards to safety. Where the dealers should be responsible.
With 5th wheels the blowout and ability to steer is way less due to the fact that having weight on the back of the tow vehicle will keep an excessive less amount of weight driving down on the steer tire creating more of an ability to control the vehicle. U told of course you brake hard which in turn may create an issue . Non the less there is easier chance to regain control than that of motorhome.. obviously.