BRIDGESTONE TYRE FAILURE
Discussion
I have a French 987 2007 Boxster which has N0 Bridgestone RE050 tyres on R18 rims.
Yesterday I was driving down the N10 to the Circuits des Ramparts in Angouleme when I drove over some debris as I was overtaking another car. The thump was heavy so I decided to check the tyre at the next service area. I was anticipating problems, but could not feel anything wrong through the wheel.
After about 5k at 120kph I thought I could sense some noise and the car pulling to right, so I decided to pull over onto the hard shoulder. By the time I got there the tyre was smoking. When I got out I could see that the front-right tread was now virtually separated from the rim.
The road was relatively quiet and dry, had this happened on the M25 in the wet it could have been a bit of a catastrophe as it is I only have to drive back down there to collect later this week.
I was very surprised that there was no earlier warning of loss of pressure in the feel of the car before the tread separates from the carcass and so write as a warning to other users who may drive on busier roads - it is probably best to stop and check; although pulling over on Motorways does also carry a very high risk from wayward truckers.
Yesterday I was driving down the N10 to the Circuits des Ramparts in Angouleme when I drove over some debris as I was overtaking another car. The thump was heavy so I decided to check the tyre at the next service area. I was anticipating problems, but could not feel anything wrong through the wheel.
After about 5k at 120kph I thought I could sense some noise and the car pulling to right, so I decided to pull over onto the hard shoulder. By the time I got there the tyre was smoking. When I got out I could see that the front-right tread was now virtually separated from the rim.
The road was relatively quiet and dry, had this happened on the M25 in the wet it could have been a bit of a catastrophe as it is I only have to drive back down there to collect later this week.
I was very surprised that there was no earlier warning of loss of pressure in the feel of the car before the tread separates from the carcass and so write as a warning to other users who may drive on busier roads - it is probably best to stop and check; although pulling over on Motorways does also carry a very high risk from wayward truckers.
Something similar happened to me. I was in my VW Golf TDi with a suspected bad valve stem in one tire. Why I never had this addressed I'll never know.
Was on the return leg of a 4K mile road trip when I stopped for fuel and tire pressure check. The one tire was low a bit so I topped it up and hit the road again.
I drove some distance before getting tired. Decided to stop and rest so I pulled off into a rest area to take a nap. After I work up I got out to stretch my legs and spotted a flat tire. Upon checking I found the tread was starting to separate at the edges, from driving the tire under inflated. The car had felt fine even as I pulled over into the rest area. Had I not stopped when I did the tire would have probably come apart.
Saw this happen to a car I was behind on the freeway a few weeks ago. I was back a ways and noticed some smoke coming from a tire of a vehicle ahead. I was just thinking to myself that tire's going to fail when sure enough it did and pieces started flying off. The driver slowed and managed to get to the shoulder.
Was on the return leg of a 4K mile road trip when I stopped for fuel and tire pressure check. The one tire was low a bit so I topped it up and hit the road again.
I drove some distance before getting tired. Decided to stop and rest so I pulled off into a rest area to take a nap. After I work up I got out to stretch my legs and spotted a flat tire. Upon checking I found the tread was starting to separate at the edges, from driving the tire under inflated. The car had felt fine even as I pulled over into the rest area. Had I not stopped when I did the tire would have probably come apart.
Saw this happen to a car I was behind on the freeway a few weeks ago. I was back a ways and noticed some smoke coming from a tire of a vehicle ahead. I was just thinking to myself that tire's going to fail when sure enough it did and pieces started flying off. The driver slowed and managed to get to the shoulder.
The trend towards very low profile tyres, on even your average car, hasn't helped I believe. They require very stiff sidewalls and it isn't so obvious that you have an underinflated tyre. Just a quick glance with 70 /80 profile tyres would confirm you had a slow leak.
Even on my daily runner, which has 185/60 profile tyres, it can be up to 10 psi under-inflated with only a very slight change in the appearance. This is especially so on the rear. No wonder so many manufacturers have air pressure monitors now.
Even on my daily runner, which has 185/60 profile tyres, it can be up to 10 psi under-inflated with only a very slight change in the appearance. This is especially so on the rear. No wonder so many manufacturers have air pressure monitors now.
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