After market pressure sensors on our motorhome averts potential disaster

I hope this story will be beneficial to my fellow RVers:

Background:

Back in August, 2009 attending the FMCA regional rally in Burlington, VT, I was convinced to add an after market tire pressure monitoring system to the Providence. A tire blowout or other loss of pressure on a 32,000 lb vehicle could be a disaster to the motorhome or tow vehicle. In addition to alerting to a potential tire problem, I would always know my tires were set to the right pressure for load safety, tire wear and fuel economy. The system purchased was from Pressure Pro.

Fast forward 10 months:

June 18, 2010 - On our trip leg from Grants Pass, OR to meet up with friends in Redding, CA on I-5 I was notified by the Pressure Pro monitor that our right, inside, rear tire on the Providence was losing pressure; reading 85 lbs from a normal road pressure of about 105 lbs. We were about 10 miles north of Weed, CA. The pressure continued to drop at a rate of about 10 lbs per minute. We pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. The pressure monitor was now reading 50 lbs. A quick inspection certainly revealed a deflated tire but could not determine the cause. Next step: limp at low speed to the Weed southbound rest stop about 1.5 miles away to get off the highway.

Diagnosis:

I called the closest Les Shcwab tire store (Mt. Shasta) and ordered mobile tire service. When the wheel was removed it showed the tread literally separating from the tire (see below). It was a defective Goodyear tire. We were fortunate to have the technician find a replacement, but not a Goodyear. I was a bit surprised this size tire (275/70R 22.5) is not readily available (the technician had to drive to the Oregon border to pick up a tire of the right size).

Conclusion:

The pressure monitoring system prevented a potentially disasterous outcome. I could not feel any difference in handling and if the tread had completely separated without my knowledge it could have caused significant damage to the motorhome as well as the tow vehicle.
Motorhome tires are not readily available. I eventually removed the new tire and replaced it with a Goodyear from the front then put two new Michelins on the steering axle. The non-Goodyear replacement tire is now stored as a spare.

I can't imagine being stuck on the side of a highway with a motorhome tire issue waiting for a replacement.

Thank you Pressure Pro and the initiative of the Les Schwab technician for getting us back on the road within 3 hours of the incident. I now feel a bit more confortable with a spare tire.