Experienced my first tire blowout today.
 

I have been pretty lucky in my 20 years of driving and have only had one other time where I ran over a bolt, that ended up piercing the barrel of a rim, causing air loss.

Today I was cruising to Simi Valley at around 80 (common for that freeway), when I heard something 'hit' the bottom of my car. I thought is was a hard piece of plastic, it did not sound like a rock, so kept driving. Then the car starts to feel squirmy, first I thought the tire was following a groove in the road, then I thought earthquake, then realized that the left rear was sounding very funny - metal on pavement.. There wasn't much traffic, so it was easy to pull over - I was in the fast lane. A flatbed tow tuck happened to be behind me and stopped, the guy was nice enough to throw my spare on, something I could have done myself, but since he was already dirty.... I tipped him $5 and was on my way.

Bad news is that I need to replace all 4 tires. Good news, is that I found a pretty good deal and will replace them tomorrow.

I'm glad this was the rear tire...

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I'm guessing that what I heard hitting the underside of the car, was a piece of tire flying off before the tire blew.

Why do you have to replace all 4 tires? That would be scary to have a front wheel blow out at 80 on fwd car. Glad you made it off the freeway safely. Some people have no idea what to when this happens and end up causing major accidents.

The two front tires are worn, and all four had flat spots (don't ask :)).

I was going to rotate the tires a while back, but was lazy, then ended up with the flat spots. I guess it was a good thing I was lazy! I was planning on replacing the tires, but not so soon :).

I just kept both hands on the wheel, keeping the car straight, until I could make sure no one was to the right and then gently crossed all the lanes. Yup, not looking forward to a front tire blowout on a FWD car.

Man, those are some UGLY Fuchs! :)

Glad you're OK and handled it well.

I had a blow out once on the 210 freeway in Pasadena. Changed it right there on the side of the freeway (that wasn't very bright).

Just follow the same MO for a front blowout. No fast moves.

Ian

Rare 4 bolt 911.

i blew a tire on my lifted and offroad set up 94 jeep cherokee. while offroading a leaf spring clamp busted causing the leaf to swivel and burn a hole in the BRAND NEW tire. this was the first time i had them on. i thought i had lost a wheel.

Oh ...you said "blow out" .............never mind I read that all wrong.

I blew a front tire on a FWD at 80 something on the fwy at night when I was 18. No drama. So if it happens to you, you'll be fine.

These are some extremely rare 4 lug, drop forged cast steel 911.5 turbo Fuchs.

Good to know that a front blowout is not as bad as I've heard.

Rear blowouts are more dangerous than front blowouts

Front = under steer

Rear = over steer

I blew a front also about 75mph, not as bad as I thought it would be. There is some pucker factor.:D

I had a rear pop while going around a corner on city streets. The old truck I was driving promptly swapped ends. Interesting feeling, like hitting a patch of ice on a sunny day.