Highway Tire Blowout! Only have had car one month!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 734
Likes: 27
2021 Yukon XL Denali, 2017 GLS450 4MATIC, 1993 Chevy Corvette
Highway Tire Blowout! Only have had car one month!
So this past Sunday, July 11, which just so happens to be my birthday, I was driving with my girlfriend back from a nice birthday dinner at my family's house and blew a tire.
How it happened: I merged onto I-66 going about 45mph moving up to 60-65 as I pulled off the ramp onto the highway. After about 30 seconds I am checking my mirrors to switch into the middle lane (left) and BAMMM! "Oh Sh**!" I think. We have all hit pot holes before that have scared the crap out of us but no damage is done - this is what I was hoping for. However, still driving at speed another jarring bump as the tire completely deflates.
Because I was only 0.5 miles from my exit I throw the hazards on and get into the right lane and manage to hobble off the highway. The girlfriend is freaking out, and, if it wasn't for her being there I probably would have been too. However, with her in the car I was able to keep my composure and get out and assess the damage. She said she saw a 3 inch wide rock sitting on the highway, which if anyone knows the poor state that I-66 is currently in, is no surprise that a chunk of the road is just lying out there for someone to hit. Thankfully, no exterior damage to the body or rim was done (save for a minor 1cm bump on the edge of of the rim), however, the tires sidewall had a 3.5 inch gash clear through it.
Let me preface this by saying I bought the car at the end of May with 33,000 miles on it and the dealer had replaced the rear two tires with brand new matching ContiSportContact3s. The front is running 225 ContiSportContact3s the rear with the new 245 ContiSportContact3s. The front tires had I would say about 45% tread left on them.
I was able to use the spare and air compressor to remove the blown tire and replace with the spare, driving the rest of the way home. The only tough part was removing the blown tire as brake dust and road grime can seal the wheel to the wheel hub so that it is difficult to remove the wheel even with the bolts taken out. However, I dealt with this before and knew the trick was to sit on your butt facing the tire and (I hate to say this) kick at the sidewall with the heel of your foot to brake up the gunk holding the tire on.
Oddly enough, I drove my Chrysler Crossfire for 3.5 years and never had a flat. That car does not have a spare tire. I drive the C55 for one month and wouldn't you know it - a flat!
Took the car to NTB near my work and had two Nitto Neo Gen tires put on both front wheels. There wasn't enough tread on the remaining good front tire to justify replacing only one wheel and after calling several tire stores none of them had the ContiSportContact3s. I checked tirerack.com which had them in stock, however, I wanted new tires ASAP as my daily commute is all highway and it was a bit hairy commuting with the spare Monday morning.
After I paid for new tires (Nitto Nex Gen summer tires), installation, alignment check, and front end realignment, my bill came out to $513. The service was good at NTB Chantilly and I was pleased with the turn around time (about 4 hours). I think the prices were relatively fair for a one-day turn around. You can obviously save more if you are willing to purchase tires online and wait 1-3 days to have them delivered. I would have ideally liked to have bought ContiSportContact3s to replace the fronts but I am fairly sure I am going to invest in a set of winter tires and rims come December anyways (Blizzaks or other similar) and I am only concerned the two rear tires and the two front tires match.
Brief comments on the Nitto Nex Gens: the ContiSportContact3s made by Continental are definitely a higher quality tire hands down. That being said, the Nittos, while feeling softer in turns, seem to have plenty of grip and are just as quiet as the ContiSports. I have read reviews that say they wear down quick and once worn down become noisy and prone to hydroplaning, however, since they are on the front tires I am hoping they will last a little longer. I know our rear tires are prone to burning out quick.
Just wanted to vent and share my experience with everyone.
How it happened: I merged onto I-66 going about 45mph moving up to 60-65 as I pulled off the ramp onto the highway. After about 30 seconds I am checking my mirrors to switch into the middle lane (left) and BAMMM! "Oh Sh**!" I think. We have all hit pot holes before that have scared the crap out of us but no damage is done - this is what I was hoping for. However, still driving at speed another jarring bump as the tire completely deflates.
Because I was only 0.5 miles from my exit I throw the hazards on and get into the right lane and manage to hobble off the highway. The girlfriend is freaking out, and, if it wasn't for her being there I probably would have been too. However, with her in the car I was able to keep my composure and get out and assess the damage. She said she saw a 3 inch wide rock sitting on the highway, which if anyone knows the poor state that I-66 is currently in, is no surprise that a chunk of the road is just lying out there for someone to hit. Thankfully, no exterior damage to the body or rim was done (save for a minor 1cm bump on the edge of of the rim), however, the tires sidewall had a 3.5 inch gash clear through it.
Let me preface this by saying I bought the car at the end of May with 33,000 miles on it and the dealer had replaced the rear two tires with brand new matching ContiSportContact3s. The front is running 225 ContiSportContact3s the rear with the new 245 ContiSportContact3s. The front tires had I would say about 45% tread left on them.
I was able to use the spare and air compressor to remove the blown tire and replace with the spare, driving the rest of the way home. The only tough part was removing the blown tire as brake dust and road grime can seal the wheel to the wheel hub so that it is difficult to remove the wheel even with the bolts taken out. However, I dealt with this before and knew the trick was to sit on your butt facing the tire and (I hate to say this) kick at the sidewall with the heel of your foot to brake up the gunk holding the tire on.
Oddly enough, I drove my Chrysler Crossfire for 3.5 years and never had a flat. That car does not have a spare tire. I drive the C55 for one month and wouldn't you know it - a flat!
Took the car to NTB near my work and had two Nitto Neo Gen tires put on both front wheels. There wasn't enough tread on the remaining good front tire to justify replacing only one wheel and after calling several tire stores none of them had the ContiSportContact3s. I checked tirerack.com which had them in stock, however, I wanted new tires ASAP as my daily commute is all highway and it was a bit hairy commuting with the spare Monday morning.
After I paid for new tires (Nitto Nex Gen summer tires), installation, alignment check, and front end realignment, my bill came out to $513. The service was good at NTB Chantilly and I was pleased with the turn around time (about 4 hours). I think the prices were relatively fair for a one-day turn around. You can obviously save more if you are willing to purchase tires online and wait 1-3 days to have them delivered. I would have ideally liked to have bought ContiSportContact3s to replace the fronts but I am fairly sure I am going to invest in a set of winter tires and rims come December anyways (Blizzaks or other similar) and I am only concerned the two rear tires and the two front tires match.
Brief comments on the Nitto Nex Gens: the ContiSportContact3s made by Continental are definitely a higher quality tire hands down. That being said, the Nittos, while feeling softer in turns, seem to have plenty of grip and are just as quiet as the ContiSports. I have read reviews that say they wear down quick and once worn down become noisy and prone to hydroplaning, however, since they are on the front tires I am hoping they will last a little longer. I know our rear tires are prone to burning out quick.
Just wanted to vent and share my experience with everyone.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 734
Likes: 27
2021 Yukon XL Denali, 2017 GLS450 4MATIC, 1993 Chevy Corvette
Its relevant to me in an ironic sense given that after 3 years of driving a car without a spare, I drive the C55 for a month and blow a tire. Just wanted to share the experience.
Anyone else driving different types of tires for their fronts and rears?
Anyone else driving different types of tires for their fronts and rears?
