20 replies to this topic

[MarkBC]

I never had, until this past Sunday.  

 

This happened on I-10 west, entering Houston, Texas, happened to my pickup-with-camper.  The speed was about 50 mph -- in very heavy traffic (which was why the speed was only 50).

"BANG! GGGGRRRRR..." 

(the "GGGGRRRRR" is the sound of bare wheel metal on pavement at 50 mph).

I had to force my way across 3 lanes of traffic to get the truck over to the shoulder.  Fortunately, the tire that blew was on the rear, so I still had decent steering control.

 

The whole tread layer flew off...somewhere.

   

 

All in all, it was a wild ride.

 

(I don't want to mention --  but I will -- that there had been some warning signs that the tire was in distress... but I didn't interpret the signs as serious a problem as it turned out to be)

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Ouch!  No fun.  
 

Yes, I had a blowout on the White Horse Ranch Rd.  Scared the feathers out of me.   We were going about 35 in an old Suburban.   Tire pressure monitors help avoid this.

[craig333]

Yes, on 395 near the CA/NV border. It was scary and large reason I sold the Chevy Pickup with the heavy camper and got my Dodge and FWC. It was on a straight stretch of road. Had it occurred on a sharp curve I might not be here.

[camelracer]

Twice for me. First on 395 in Owens Valley at 70mph with no warning. Took out the side of the truck bed and slapped the back of the camper. The second time was on I15 on the Baker grade. Had some warning that time but it took out the front inner fender. Both times on BFG all terrains from different lots with good tread. 

 

The worst incident I've had was loosing a rear wheel on the Jeep at 65mph. Rolled down the freeway several times and thanks to a good roll cage survived.

[Vic Harder]

Holy carp... (that's a fish)... what were the warning signs?

[MarkBC]

Holy carp... (that's a fish)... what were the warning signs?

 

There was some rhythmic noise when the truck was moving at normal speed -- like, in time with the rotation of the tire, indicating that some spot on the tire tread was "different".  Then it got worse -- a rhythmic vibration, bumping.  I think there was a weakness in the tire structure that was becoming a bulge...and that part blew. 

Yes, I KNOW -- I should have pulled over and put on the spare BEFORE the tire blew.  Live and learn (and I lived).

 

Speaking of putting on the spare:  It was a pretty exciting operation there on the shoulder of a very busy interstate in a huge megalopolous… belly-crawling under the truck to place the jack under the axle.. straining to lift the heavy spare onto the lugs -- my rear end sticking out near the lane of traffic, just a couple/few feet from the semis zooming by. 

 

All a part of life's rich pageant!

[MarkBC]

Twice for me. First on 395 in Owens Valley at 70mph with no warning. Took out the side of the truck bed and slapped the back of the camper. The second time was on I15 on the Baker grade. Had some warning that time but it took out the front inner fender. Both times on BFG all terrains from different lots with good tread. 

 

The worst incident I've had was loosing a rear wheel on the Jeep at 65mph. Rolled down the freeway several times and thanks to a good roll cage survived.

 

This reminded me -- there was some collateral damage to my truck and camper, presumably by the big chunk of rubber tread as it flew off:

1. The cable/cord that leads from the truck engine to charge the camper battery was torn off the plug -- leaving the live wire dangling, sparking when it touched metal.
2. A small metal brace or strut that connects to the inside of the fender was broken.

[Ronin]

I had a left front tire blowout on my 1ton Chev Dually years ago. I was pulling a 4 horse trailer loaded with 2 horses on Jackson Hwy. When the tire blew I immediately went left across the center divide. Fortunately there wasn't any on coming vehicles and I was able to slow down gradually and pull over to the shoulder. Talk about a wake up call!!

[craig333]

I had a Nevada Highway Patrol stop and check on me. I guess it looked like I had it under control because he didn't offer to get his hands dirty. 

 

Rolling a Jeep, reminds me of a project I've been putting off. Getting the cage tied into the frame. 

[Foy]

Right rear blowout on a 1990 Suburban K-1500 at 80 mph on I-85 in Archdale, NC.  I also ignored a warning signal--I knew all 4 tires were at least 8 years old when I had them mounted onto the Suburban's wheels (but there was SO much tread on them!).  The left rear started an odd wobbling at low speed passing through Greensboro and I stopped to have a look.  At a dead stop I could see the tread looked like it was inching toward the sidewall, which it was due to tread separation. I put the spare on the ground and continued on towards Charlotte.  About 10 miles out of Greensboro, the right rear blew with only a couple of seconds of vibration before the BOOM.  I took a AAA tow back to Greensboro and bought 4 new tires, my confidence in the front two having by then gone to zero.

 

Glad you made it out of that Mark.  I think I'd have driven mine on the rim until it ground down to a nub to reach a good place to change it out. Wheels are cheap. 

 

Foy