It is important to have good tires PSA

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

So my Aurora has been dead for a while, and my replacement was a 1998 Buick Park Avenue.  Its a nice car.  It came with a set of Kelley tires(not edges,  but I dont want to go look right now its cold, my head hurts, and my ribs hurt).  These tires were made in 2013 per the DOT number, and the tread was okay.  I decided to get some cooper evolution winter tires ordered and I was going to have them put on this car on Saturday(in a few days.)  I decided it because the tires were starting to visibly dry rot and have issues, and I knew it was time even though the tread and traction were good.  

So on my way home after new year brunch with my grandparents, my tire blew out.  My car took an instant shot for the ditch and I was going 45mph in snow/ice so there was no stopping.  It wasnt until I hit a culvert and jumped over a driveway that I was able to stop.  Let me just say, air bags hurt.

So who's fault is it?  Im gonna say me.  Ive driven the car for a few months and should regularily check my tires, and maybe I would have had the snow tires put on this last saturday and saved me the hassle of junking my suspension.  Tires are such an under-valued but important piece of our car's suspension.  I recommend keeping good quality tires on your vehicle, people.  Im gonna be looking at some other GM car with the same tire size so I can get the tires still put on saturday.

[Tanner Blackart]

Hate that you had a hard life lesson, but 100% glad that you were able to tell us all about it. It could have been a lot worse.

[mrn65]

Sorry you went through that, You might want to evaluate ur damage for cost repair. But do keep in mind the average age for tire is 3-5 years!, if you see a lot of web looking cracks on the sidewalls, it's time for new ones.

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

Yeah that's why I had an appointment to put new ones on Saturday. And yeah, I would have to replace every suspension component not including body damage

[mrn65]

The reason I said that was to find out the car's worth making the repair to ur car BEFORE spending the extra of replacing those tires

[Marc]

I also had a blowout, almost 50 years ago.


The place: Mt.Vernon, NY

The road: The Bronx River River Parkway, flat & straight at that point.

The tire: Firestone, not a radial, left front.

The car: 1966 Cutlass Supreme.

I was doing about 50 mph when I heard a loud bang & simultaneously saw a large portion of the left front tire flying away from the car. It immediately started to pull very strongly to the left. I lifted off the gas & let it coast to a stop. Nothing happened to me or the car. I got out, put on the spare & kept going. And from that day onward, I have stayed away from Firestone tires.....far away!

[jofa]

Glad to hear your ok. Tough way to learn the importance of good tires. Definitely one of the two most important safety items on your car.

[ljhermsen]

Aurora Girl from Heaven, you just never cease to amaze me. I always look forward to your latest automotive venture, how you fixed it, your words of advice which are usually spot on, and then you tell all of us that you did New Years brunch with your grandparents. GOOD FOR YOU. You seem to be a good role model. Keep up the good work!

[emarkay]

What caused the blowout; sidewall, tread, and what debris... What PSI you using on tires?

FYI, the classics use pretty obscure tires, but remember all vehicles are riding on rubber, steel and air.

Had a Camaro blowout after hitting some yahoo's lethal steel arrowhead in the middle of the street, and another when ice popped the sidewall in an old Caprice...

Glad all is OK!
MRK

[AuroraGirlFromMars]

I believe it was the tire itself, The tires didnt leak and were kept at the door jambs recommended 30psi. Driving on snow.


You can see here that the damage caused a broken control arm

Also looking at rear lateral link and/or control arm

And that is the tire blowout. Looks nasty. Sure hurt.

I think Im gonna trailer the car to my shop once its warm then take a good look over and see if I want to put the money into repair it. If I do want to, I will fix it and probably sell it since I got a supercharged car with a little bit better interior now, and I only paid 400 for that car. If I cant fix it, I will strip it for parts and scrap the rest. Engine and transmission are pretty solid so I would pull those and sell them.