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Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 18, 2014 • 4:43 pm
by sam10100
So I was driving to lunch in the middle of the day. I hear a boom. At first I thought I must have hit a curb or something. I park and step outside to see a blown tire. It's flat and there is a big whole in it. After getting towed to a dealership and getting a new tire everything is back to normal.
Just thought I'd share my bang up day with you guys.
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 18, 2014 • 6:31 pm
by silvermitt
Generally speaking, when I see that posted, I think you've won the lottery or something special. But you literally meant a bang. What a bummer.
Ever had your car do the shimmey-and-shake-to-death rattle going around 55-65 mph? THAT makes for a bad day too. Had it happen on vacation. Would rather forget that one myself.
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 18, 2014 • 6:56 pm
by Chandler
Sam, you're too young, but back in the 50s and 60s everyone knew how to drive and pull off to the side of the road because of a flat tire. All we had in those days were bias ply tires and they blew out pretty regularly.
Today, it's a freak event to see someone on the side of the road changing a tire (even you got a tow to the garage). Back then, it was a common site.
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 7:41 am
by Fred Buer
A big whole what, though?
In all seriousness, I'm glad you're okay. Bad things can happen at those speeds if a tire goes, and I'm happy to hear none of them did in this case.
-Fred
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 11:45 am
by Chandler
Fred Buer wrote:Bad things can happen at those speeds if a tire goes, and I'm happy to hear none of them did in this case.
-Fred
One of the side-effects of the rarity of flat tires these days I'm afraid. Like I said, back in the day everyone knew how to react and get a car onto the shoulder when a tire blew.
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 1:31 pm
by Demonlawyer
Wow, glad you're safe! I do wonder what would happen and whether it's easy to keep control of the car. Not the best way to start the week but eventful nonetheless!
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 2:10 pm
by Chandler
Demonlawyer wrote:Wow, glad you're safe! I do wonder what would happen and whether it's easy to keep control of the car. Not the best way to start the week but eventful nonetheless!
It's actually not that hard to retain control of the car. The biggest risk is panicking at the moment the tire blows out. There's often a pretty loud bang, something like a backfire (something else you never hear any more) and then the steering gets a little 'wobbly'. If you keep your cool, you can keep control of the car and pull off to the side of the road (and pray your spare is good). Back in the day, there were no cell phones....
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 3:19 pm
by sam10100
Yeah that's pretty much how it went for me. A big bang and the steering wheel went funny. Luckily I was turning into a shopping center when it happened so I didn't get stuck in the middle of the road.
Re: Start off the week with a bang.
Posted: August 19, 2014 • 3:54 pm
by Chandler
sam10100 wrote:Yeah that's pretty much how it went for me. A big bang and the steering wheel went funny. Luckily I was turning into a shopping center when it happened so I didn't get stuck in the middle of the road.
Now that you know what it feels like, if it were ever to happen again, I'd bet you'd handle it fine even if you were going at highway speeds. No doubt it's unnerving the first time, but it's a lot easier the 2nd and subsequent times.