Tire blowout on the highway this morning.

[saratoga172]

First flat I've had to change while actually driving. I'd done a couple before but never by myself.

I was driving south on Dallas north tollway this morning about 1/2 mile north of the 30e/30w/35e junction. 6:15 or so, fair amount of traffic and still fairly dark.

Pretty sure I hit something, at least it felt like it, and my tire exploded. Luckily I was within 150 yards or so of an in ramp with a nice sized sectioned off portion of the highway to pull off on. Got out of the car and my left from was flat.

I've got some knicks and scratches on the rim but it looks fine overall. Got the car jacked up, wheel pulled off and spare put on. Very nerve wrenching with traffic flying by at 70-75 less than 2 feet away and cars merging on the other side of me.

Nursed it to the nearest discount tire, thank god I purchased the road hazard a few weeks ago, had then torque down my spare and went to the shop with the tire in stock. Since it happened within 90 days of initial purchase everything is free of charge. Mounting, tire, valve repacking etc. I can only say my experience with discount is nothing short of spectacular.

Needless to say it was an experience and I will now be a little better prepared. Not sure I could have prevented it but I'll know what to do without thinking if it happens again.

 

[sdifox]

wonder what you ran over.

 

[Arkaign]

I'm in Dallas as well! So that was you that I almost ran over

j/k. Agreed about Discount, they're solid.

 

[LordMorpheus]

had the first flat on my car last Friday. Driving out to Brewery Ommegang for some music, noticed that I had to have an increasing amount of left steering input to go straight (it wasn't immediately obvious as I took winding state highways the whole way), and the engine was working harder to maintain speed. Pulled into a gas station and sure enough, the front right was pretty low (not on the rim, but getting there).

I had just checked and aired all of my tires, including my spare, so I was back on the road in 15 minutes without any more problems - thank god for full-size spares.

Although my car looks a little goofier than usual with a single pinstripe tire on it (my spare).

 

[saratoga172]

Pretty sure I hit something. No idea what though. I was in the middle lane.

 

[kaerflog]

Since no sense in starting my own thread.
I had a flat on the highway a few weeks ago.
Dind't felt the blowout as I had low profile tires but I know it got bumpy real quick.
Kept on driving and then I smelled smoke.
I pulled on the side and was like WTF....thought smoke came from the engine.
I can't believe this shit as I openned the hood, hmmmm....nothing.
Looked around all 4 tires and didn't notice anything.
Hopped back in the car and started driving when the bumpiness is even worst.
Pulled down the exit and stopped at a gas station.
Finally noticed the flat on the rear.
My dumbass predeeded to pump air and bought a fix-a-flat.
Nothing worked.
Call my insurance and got the car towed home.
Got my spare and then I figured out why pumping air and fix-a-flat didn't work.
Luckily, the rims weren't damaged with me driving on it for so long after the flat.

 

[Howard]

Since no sense in starting my own thread.
I had a flat on the highway a few weeks ago.
Dind't felt the blowout as I had low profile tires but I know it got bumpy real quick.
Kept on driving and then I smelled smoke.
I pulled on the side and was like WTF....thought smoke came from the engine.
I can't believe this shit as I openned the hood, hmmmm....nothing.
Looked around all 4 tires and didn't notice anything.
Hopped back in the car and started driving when the bumpiness is even worst.
Pulled down the exit and stopped at a gas station.
Finally noticed the flat on the rear.
My dumbass predeeded to pump air and bought a fix-a-flat.
Nothing worked.
Call my insurance and got the car towed home.
Got my spare and then I figured out why pumping air and fix-a-flat didn't work.
Luckily, the rims weren't damaged with me driving on it for so long after the flat.

Wow.

On the plus side, you have antiseize where it should be.

 

[CRXican]

your tires look to be in terrible condition

not surprised

 

[saratoga172]

your tires look to be in terrible condition

not surprised

That would be from the blowout and subsequent riding of my rim on flat rubber for a couple hundred feet while my car stopped. The tires are under two months old and have around 1500 miles on them. Weren't in bad condition at all. Just a product of my tire being flat and needing to get to the shoulder.

 

[hanoverphist]

i had a rear tire blow out at 84mph on a 3/4 ton work truck one time driving to nogales. lifted the back end of the truck about a foot or better. freaked me the hell out. thats also the day i found out the person that normally used the truck had misplaced the lug wrench and jack.

i also hit a piece of 2X4 in my 76 impala on a wide curve of the 202 here in the valley, popped that tire good. but there wasnt an exit or pull out for 2 more miles, so i just rode the shoulder until i got to the ramp. destroyed the rim, but i had spares at home and i didnt have to change a tire sitting halfway in the right traffic lane.

 

[theeedude]

That blows.

 

[3chordcharlie]

First flat I've had to change while actually driving.

Impressive, I've never been brave enough to try...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE3_04Y8Dmw