Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:58:49 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Tire Damage Question
In-Reply-To: <C9A1563B19CD40B898AA3A7A000973F4@mike2d93581d7f>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Right! Good, deep tire-tread squishes all the rain water out. Or maybe grips a little in slippery dirt. But, it's the sides of the tires (figuratively speaking) that hold the car up. Lot's of flexing and heating and "invisible" wear there. Any compromises, like your current problem, or even "age" will take down an otherwise cosmetically perfect tire. Catastrophically.
Don't cheap out with your life, or the other cars behind you or coming at you.
(I had a major rear tire blowout due to age on 14-inchers...made up my mind right there to get some good stout tires on 16" wheels; no more messing around. No regrets.)
Rich
85 GL
San Diego
--- On Thu, 10/29/09, Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Tire Damage Question
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 6:16 PM
In younger years, I, too, drove many miles on plugged tires.
Times and tires have changed. So has my willingness to take such chances with my (and my families) lives.
I've had a right rear tire blowout at 70mph, it's the closest to a near-death experience that I've ever been in. Tread separated from a previous plug repair job.
I don't even want to go down the highway on old tires that may otherwise look great and still have alot of treadlife left.
Liability is a major factor in these modern times. Ask any professional if this type of fear has any grounds in reality; don't take my word for it.....
Mike B.
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: Tire Damage Question
At 10/29/2009 05:14 PM, Mike wrote:
>
> BTW, a plug is not good, as air pressure will work it's way
> around the plug and get between the plies, ultimately causing tread
> separation at speed. Only a patch from the inside is acceptable
> and even then, NOWHERE near the sidewall or shoulder due to
> excessive flex that is normal on those areas.
>
> If you do find someone willing to plug/ patch this hole, your
> surviving family members will know who to sue when it fails...........
>
>Mike B.
I have NEVER had a plug fail like that and I've had a LOT of
experience with tire plugs (they are not for the sidewall, with that
damage you are screwed).
As a plus I can't tell you how delighted I am to see someone use FEAR
as a selling point for their own particular view point, that was one
of the reasons I stopped reading the tire threads...
Rob
becida@comcast.net
Western WA state with a Subaru powered '84 Westy