My tire BLEW UP in my face tonight!!!....

**Vanimaniac** · 10-04-2004 10:30 PM

First of all I just want to thank the good Lord that I am not in the hospital right now.

So anyways, I was driving home from work tonight and once I got out on the highway I noticed a huge wobble in the car. The car was swaying from side to side with the slightest movement of the steering wheel. I was only going 60 to 65 MPH. I knew I had a slight leak in my left rear tire so I figured it must have turned into a BIG leak while parked at work. So I just happened to be coming up to an exit where I usually go to air up my tires. I pulled up to the pump, got out, and checked the left rear tire that usually goes low on me. Nope not that tire this time. So I walked around to the other side and the right rear tire was almost completely empty. Why? I don't know. I only live 5 minutes away so I decided to air it up and go home and figure out what to do next.

Well, I started to air it up and it seemed like it was filling up. However, I couldn't notice any change in the sidewall as I was airing it up. Granted, it was kinda dark behind the gas station. I heard what sounded to me like rocks, gravel etc. adjusting underneath the tire so I assumed it was taking in air. I stopped and thought for a second to make sure that the sound was what I thought it was. I started to air it up again and before I knew it BOOOOOOMMMMM! The tire exploded! Smoke, dust, etc. went spraying everywhere and knocked me back a bit.

Sounded and felt like a gun went off in my face!

I couldn't have been airing it up for more than 10 total seconds. I can't believe that I could have overinflated the tire from "flat" to "explode" in that amount of time. Something went wrong. I just can't figure out what.

Luckily the tire blew from the inside and not the outside or I probably wouldn't be typing this right now! The force of the explosion blew out part of the carpeting in the inner wheel well. I have that as a momento now.

Luckily for me, since I had an autocross yesterday (no I don't autocross on my street tires) I had all my equipment still in the car. So I jacked up the car and pulled the blown tire off and put on the 17" OEM spare and drove home.

Here's a couple pics. Anyone have any idea why this happened? I inspected the tire and saw 3 or 4 nails/sharp metal objects in the tire so I guess that explains the flat. I just don't see why it would blow up from any other reason but overinflation. And right before it happened it still looked flat.

That's part of the wheel well carpet sitting inside the wheel.

I need a drink!

Van

**foofighter** · 10-04-2004 10:41 PM

dam that must have been scary

**Foos Girl** · 10-04-2004 10:42 PM

glad you are ok mang!!

**giago** · 10-04-2004 10:47 PM

get some gin in the rocks, it will help you.
hehe.
I'm glad to hear you are ok!!!

**Silvant** · 10-04-2004 11:06 PM

damn.. that's crazy..
contact the oem.

**Avant Mat** · 10-05-2004 01:01 AM

Thanks god, you didn't drive too fast. If not, tough to imagine where you are now ?? God bless us all.

**Jet Jockey** · 10-05-2004 04:57 AM

Glad you're OK. You are one lucky Dude.

**Bossman** · 10-05-2004 06:15 AM

Glad you're ok. A blown tire is nothing compare to what you could of been.

**Breedawg4** · 10-05-2004 06:21 AM

yeah...that could have been a lot worse, either hurting you when it blew up or actually blowing up while you were driving.

What kind of tires are those??

**Vanimaniac** · 10-05-2004 07:51 AM

Falken Azenis ST115's.

I'm going to go a buy a lottery ticket now.

Thanks guys,
Van

**lcapoun** · 10-05-2004 08:49 AM

that had to be the funniest thing I've heard today and its so early at work

**piaadoll** · 10-05-2004 08:56 AM

holy moly!!! i never heard of exploding tires before...or would that be the same as tires blowing out on the freeway since people would hear a popping noise?

anyways, glad youre ok, and thank heavens it exploded while you were parked and not on the road and that you're ok. *phew*