I got a flat tire on my last delivery...

I decided to go a slightly round-about way to the delivery to avoid waiting at a pair of stop lights or zig-zagging small streets later. The route took me through a 1-mile stretch of Sheridan Rd that has some fun twists through a ravine (between Tower Rd and Scott Ave in Winnetka, IL).

Next thing I know, *BAM*... it felt worse than the pothole at the rest area... and sure enough, about a second later, the TPMS pressure light came on. Drove for a little bit to get out of the ravine and pull partway in to a driveway so I could check on the wheel.

When I came to a stop the tire definitely looked low, you could hear/feel the air hissing out. But, at least it seemed that it still had enough air until then to keep the sidewall up.

Swapped to my spare, finished the delivery... then I cashed out and came home (getting some Burger King along the way).

Took a closer look at the "damage"... now that the tire was completely flat, I was able to move the rubber a bit... it doesn't look like the wheel took any major damage, just on the edge of the rim. The tire also looked fine. So my guess is that impact pushed the tire enough to break the seal.

So now, I'm debating whether I'm paranoid enough to justify getting new tires (and even new wheels). The paranoid would say the impact could cause enough damage to the tire to allow it to get a bubble or otherwise weaken that part of the sidewall enough for it to blow out later.

 

235s? More pics!

 

I have been on that stretch of Sheridan before. It is very fun to drive. Lots of yuppies and McMansions in that area which is rather gay but what can you do? There is a beach off of Sheridan rd in highland park with a lite lighthouse on a hill. I brought my girlfriend their early one morning and made her banana split panckaes for breakfast as we watched the sunrise over the lake, cool stuff.

 

Well done Lyon - romance is everywhere we find it.

Goobs -it's all about the budget. Tires been whacked but most likely okay, like you said - the bead. I slammed a pot hole this past week entering a mall lot. Jared my teeth, but could find no signs of damage. One of a few reasons I dislike this time of year.

 

I'm gonna go have the tire remounted (as soon as I log off).

If the tire shows ANY hint of damage, I'm swapping out all four tires ASAP (and probably wheels too). I'm not keen on having a blowout.

 

KC - the streets of NYis where you don't want to be this time of the year.

 

So, went to one auto shop... couldn't fit me in 'till 3... WTF? 2 hour wait for remounting a tire, no thanks.

Drove 5x further to Costco and asked if they could remount it. "Okay, let's see if its repairable."

NOPE.

Apparently, I was mistaken about where the air was hissing from... its actually coming out of a hole in the sidewall.

 

You will probably have a hard time finding the same OEM tire and if you do will have to pay a premium price for it, or if not, buy a pair of tires to have two of the exact width and diameter on opposite sides of the car.. Since I know you are fighting the urge I'll add that lighter wheels are not as robust and strong as the stock wheels but they do respond to road irregularities better and allow the springs and shocks to absorb and dampen the energy of hazardous bumps instead of absorbing it themselves like a heavier wheel does... You just don't want to use a lower than stock aspect ratio tire unless the tire is wider than stock with the kind of pot holes you guys get up there after a hard winter.

 

I have no intention of getting the OEM size or even Dunlops, it's gonna be 205, Conti DWS. But, the problem is... even with a referral discount (which I think they're only doing to humor me, @ $3 per tire)... the local shop is an hour away and more then ordering from tirerack.com (taxes and fees!!!).

The problem with tirerack... it's not instant... so, do I drive on my spare till then?!? Then again, that local shop doesn't actually have it in stock either, needs to be shipped from their warehouse.

I would love to move to lighter wheels... but man, $230 a pop is a bit much right now (the Contis don't come in 15").

$1500 for the whole set (4xtires&wheels)... :|

 

I feel you. My right front blistered on the side after hitting a pothole. Changed both fronts with Falken Ziex. The Conti DWS's are great tires. Have them on my WRX.

 

I hear some of them have concession stands lol

What's it cost these days to keep a car in the Big Apple?

 

The General Exclaim is a decent tire, light and much cheaper.. I went with Conti Pro Contacts in 195 55 15. They work well for me where I live but when I get on road surfaces that are worn smooth and wet they aren't all that reassuring but some of that is because I need an alignment... I paid $1200 for them mounted on RPF1s and they are wearing very well partially because I can rotate them by moving the rear tires directly to the same side forward and the rear to opposite sides in the rear... They also have a higher load rating than stock, have a 400 tread wear rating, MS rating and are the lightest tire in that that size except for the same tire with a lesser load rating... The DWS is by far a much more desirable tire but you pay dearly for it in cash and weight. Besides if I had tires with more traction I would surely have broken something between them and the flywheel by now.

 

Ive been super slacking with my Fit but I just dropped it off to have my wheels and tires mounted and TPMS swapped over.... I know ive had the wheels and tires for 5 months but at least im finally getting to it hahhaa

 

Well TC... I need the traction, there's way too much crap here to run into. And since I don't have a high boost SC... I have very little to worry about anything from the tire up.

Anyway, I'm not complaining about the price of the tires... even if I bought the DWS locally, it would cost LESS than the tires I put on the Pathfinder just before returning it to my sister & her husband (Michelin LTX MS2s, they came out to about $710)... and I had already decided on buying a Fit by then.

Right now, I'm just trying to figure out... do I really want to get the RPF1s now? If I do, it makes ordering from Tirerack much easier (since they'll mount tire to the wheel and everything)... but it'll cost over $1500 (I forgot to add S&H last time). If I chose NOT to get the wheels, I can save about $1k for the time being... but then I'd have to get the tires mounted and everything.

 

Well Goobers, just like there is a lot to gain from buying the better tires there is probably as much or more to gain by having them mounted on some very light wheels... If you mount the new tires on the stock wheels and decide to get wheels later you will have to pay to have them mounted and balanced twice so figure that in also.. I hear labor charges up there are pretty high.

 

Drove to & From work... thought about those in Japan dealing with the horrific Disaster.

Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - Japan devastated by earthquake and resulting tsunami, Honda also impacted

I know 555Sexy is in Japan. Anyone heard from him or anyone else over seas?

~SB

 

I installed an Takeda Intake...feels great!

 

Installed HKS Hi-Power exhaust and did a full detail.

 

Got the fit tinted. Put on a new sticker and washed her.

(32% all around)

 

Looks good. Wish the grass was green around these parts.

I can see red emblems working.