No need to apologize, but I would like an explanation why a RFT is no good after a full blowout. I don't want to be ignorant anymore.

 

Not much tire left after full blowout same with either RFT or non-RFT

What to Do if You Get a Tire Blowout on the Highway

Crisis Series: Tire Blowout

What to do if your tire ruptures on the highway? The term blowout generally refers to a bursting tire that quickly follows by a loss of air pressure. Most blowouts are caused by too little air pressure, allowing the tire to flex beyond elastic limits until the rubber on the tire loses the bond it has to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement. But when it comes to staying safe and getting back on the road as quickly as possible, what should you do?

• Some stats associated with flat and blown out tires:
  Flat tire season is May through September due to heat and increased travel.
• Flat tires and tire blowouts are estimated to cause more than 78,300 crashes annually.
• Total annual sales in car tires: $32.1 billion.
• The average driver will experience up to 5 flat tires in their lifetime.
• 7 tire punctures occur every second in the U.S. – that’s 220 million flat tires annually.

Common Reasons for Tire Blowouts

There a few common reasons that your tires could blowout, and they are all related to the main theme of not taking care of your tires for either maintenance and tire rotation, or avoiding putting air in them when pressure gets low. Sometimes, tire blowouts are the cause of other underlying issues.

• Under Inflation
• Worn Treads
• Potholes
• Heat
• Slow Leak

There are simple and convenient measures you can take to prevent a tire blowout from ever happening. A routine inspection to check for proper pressure, any leaks, or the tread of wear and tear is important.

What to do if You Experience a Blowout on the Highway

If your tire blows out on the highway when you’re traveling at high speeds, there are important tips to keep in mind so you know what to do when your tire blows out. When your tire blows out on the highway, here is what you need to do:

1. Grip steering wheel firmly and do not slam on brakes.
2. Let your car slow down gradually by taking your foot off the gas pedal.
3. Let your car roll toward the berm or an exit. Do Not Stop in Traffic.
4. Brake lightly once off the road until you come to a stop.
5. Turn on your emergency flashers.
6. Stand a safe distance from your vehicle while waiting for help to arrive.

It can be a scary and gut-wrenching situation when you’re cruising down the highway and experience a tire blowout. Use these tips to learn what to do when your tire blows out, and how to avoid a flat tire through proper maintenance.

What Causes A Tire To Shred? 9 Reasons For Shredding In Tires, And How You Can Protect Them

October 12, 2021 by Jack SmartWhat causes a tire to shred to pieces? If you have ever been in a situation where your tire blew out and got shredded, you might have wondered about it. Well, wonder no more!

I loaded my vehicle with my family, and we were all heading towards our first vacation in years. Suddenly the tires of my vehicle blew out and were shredded into pieces.

I was on the highway and could not find any garage nearby. I inspected the vehicle everywhere but could not find any reason why my tires had shredded, which disappointed me.

I asked a friend of mine: what causes a tire to shreds? After talking, I realized I am not alone in have faced this problem. It can happen to anyone. So, I researched a bit and am sharing some of the important reasons for shredding tires.

What Causes Shredded Tires

Tires should always be in good condition while driving. The four patches of rubber in your car are the only thing that is in physical contact with the pavements.

The performance of the suspension system and the braking system of your vehicle is mainly dependent on the condition of the tire.
You might also like to read : Where To Store Winter Tires Apartment
Shredding of tires can damage your car and poor vehicle handling, which can be dangerous not only for the driver but also for other drivers on-road and pedestrians.

There are many reasons why your tires get shredded. I will discuss some of the important reasons below.

#1. When The Tire Is Under Pressure

Air in the tire plays a vital role in driving. If your tire does not have a sufficient amount of air pressure, then it can be dangerous.

The air inside the tire is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), and the recommended value is usually written on a sticker near the driver’s door frame.

When your tires do not have sufficient pressure, internal components like fabric, rubber, composites will be affected. Your tire will heat up quickly when underinflated, which can lead to the shedding of tires. An over-pumped tire is equally bad. It affects your tire badly and may lead to shredding.

#2. Overloading Of Vehicle

Adding too much weight to your vehicle can also be the reason for shredding tires. You should always prefer to load your vehicle with a reasonable amount of weight. Otherwise, it can be dangerous on the road.

#3. Hazards On-Road

The conditions of the road greatly affect the tire of your vehicle. When your car hits a heavy crack, rock, or a large pothole, then there is a lot of stress on your tire. The suspension system is designed to absorb shocks, but have you ever wondered where the energy absorbed goes?

The impact of the energy on your tires can badly affect the outside or inside condition of the tire. Sometimes you hear the blowout immediately because of large cuts on your tire.

Otherwise, it may take a few months to detect the condition of the tire. One day you will suddenly find your tires have been shredded in pieces which can be dangerous while driving on the road.

#4. Small Debris

Small debris on the road like nails, glass bits can enter into the tires, which can lead to blow out, and finally, your tire may shred into pieces.

So you should visually inspect your tires regularly. If you see anything poking on your tire, then repair your tire immediately.

#5. Camber Angle

Camber angle is the angle between the centerline of the vehicle’s wheel with respect to the road surface. It distributes the load across the entire tread of your tires.

The camber angle can be of two types. Positive camber angle is the angle in which the two wheels of the vehicle are leaning outward, whereas, in negative camber angle, the two-wheel leans towards the inward direction.

Both positive camber and negative camber have benefits. If I talk about positive camber, it reduces the steering effort of the driver and provides good stability in a straight line. That’s why manufacturers give a positive camber angle in off-road vehicles.

Similarly, a negative camber angle is provided in racing cars because they provide good cornering grip at high speed.

But if the positive or negative camber angle goes out of the designed maximum limit, then it severely affects your tire. It will cause misalignment of the tires of your vehicle, which is extremely dangerous. Your tire can have premature wear and tear, which can lead to the shedding of tires.
You might also like to read : Wheel Bearing Noise Stops When Turning Right

#6.Toe Angle

Toe angle is the direction of tires pointed with respect to the centerline of the vehicle. If the car’s wheels point inward when viewed from above, we call it toe-in angle. This angle provides stability in a straight line and is mainly found in streetcars and off-road cars. But excessive toe-in angle can damage the outer portion of the tire, which can even lead to shredding.

Now, if I talk about the toe-out angle, it is the angle when the two wheels of the vehicle are pointed outward when viewed from above. They are mainly used in racing cars because the toe-out angle improves the steering mechanism when drivers turn in the corner.

But excessive toe-out can severely affect the inside portion of the tire, which is not visible for a few months and may finally shred tires.

#7.Slow Leak

Sometimes your tire may have a slow leak, and you don’t recognize it. You may head towards any picnic with your family members, and suddenly your tire cannot bear the heavy load and may lead to shredding of tires. So, I will advise you to check the pressure of your air from time to time.

#8. Worn Ball Bearings

The ball joint is a vital component of the suspension system of your car. But it becomes dry or may get damaged with time and starts moving freely.

Consequently, it disturbs the camber angle of your vehicle, which affects your tire. Finally, it may lead to the shredding of tires. I will advise you to lubricate the ball joint from time to time to prevent it from getting dry.

#9. Damaged Rubber Bushings

The rubber bushings of the upper and lower control arm may damage with time and disturbs the camber angle. The disturbance of camber angle may lead to shredding of tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. What causes a tire to shreds on the inside?

When the tire’s pressure is low, the internal pieces of the tier will become weak, and it will finally shred in pieces.

#2. Can you drive on a shredded tire?

The flat tire acts as a cushion and protects the rim of the wheel. But if your tire has shredded, then you can drive a few yards, but it’s better not to drive. Going on a shredded tire is extremely dangerous for your life and other drivers on the road.

#3. How does a tire get ripped?

Your tire may get ripped by a sharp object like nails or glass on the road. You need to avoid driving on such a road where you find a lot of derbies.

Wrap Up

The tires are the safety item of your vehicle. It should always be in fantastic condition. Any misalignment, puncture, shredding in the middle of the road is extremely dangerous.


YMMV,
MidCow3

 

That is anecdotal at best. A regular tire will shred like that from running completely flat. A runflat will not if it's run below 50 mph and less than 50 miles.

 

He who knows not, and knows not he knows not, is a fool; shun him.
He who knows not, and knows he knows not, is simple; teach him.
He who knows, and knows not he knows, is asleep; awaken him.
He who knows, and knows he knows, is wise; follow him.

Can a Run-Flat Tire Blowout?

While run-flat tires are designed to be more durable and resistant to punctures, they are not immune to blowouts. In fact, a run-flat tire can still blowout under certain circumstances.

There are several factors that can contribute to a run-flat tire blowout, including:

• Tire damage or wear
  
• Overloading or improper inflation
  
• High-speed driving or aggressive cornering
  
• Improper tire maintenance or neglect
  

In the event of a run-flat tire blowout, it is essential to follow proper safety procedures to minimize the risk of an accident.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Good advice. But in the vast majority of cases a runflat will get you to the nearest repair shop. For that reason, I will stick with them. I had runflats for 10 years on a 2006 Corvette and never had any issues. I now have a 2016 ATS-V and it has non runflats and the car came with a compressor and repair kit. Also never had any issues with that. So both ways work.

I like your statements at the beginning of your last post. At work, we would say that the worst person was a stupid person that thought they were smart. I also told my boss one day about a project we took on that we'd never done before. He asked me our biggest challenge and I said, we don't know what we don't know. He didn't get it at first, but then quickly learned. Good luck.

 

That tire is the result of being driven on flat. Could have been a puncture, could have blown out but there is a difference. Tires don’t “blow out” all around the tire. The damage in that pic is from the tire being low on air and driven on until it shreds.

 

No tire design will prevent this type of flat. These tires are unsalvageable, run flat or otherwise, these examples. are of tires that are junk!

From Tire Rack:"The term "blowout" is generally used by drivers to describe a bursting tire accompanied by a rapid loss of air pressure. While one might assume that all blowouts are caused by too much internal pressure bursting a weak spot in the tire, the main reason for them is just the opposite. Most blowouts are caused by too little air pressure allowing the tire to flex beyond its elastic limits until it overheats to the point where the rubber loses its bond to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement.

Tire blowouts are usually the result of overloading the vehicle, impact damage (either immediate or delayed depending on severity of the impact), a massive cut that causes rapid air loss, or an unnoticed small puncture that allows the tire to slowly lose air over time until it fails. Blowouts are typically caused by anything that allows air to escape and prevents the tire from supporting the weight of the vehicle.

While tires have become so reliable that "blowouts" are an uncommon occurrence today, their lack of frequency only makes them more surprising and potentially more dangerous when they do occur. Regardless of the cause, what a driver does following a blowout can be the difference between a simple inconvenience or ending up in-the-ditch."

The sad thing about this situation is that I'm sure we've all seen that senseless driver that's driving around on a very low pressure or flat tire, completely oblivious of what is in store for them 'down the road' literally and figuratively!

 

Thanks for all of the details on blowouts and shredding. I used the term blowout casually, and I know more now. I believe for the situations I've experienced that runflats would give me improved drivability and hence I value the feature despite the other drawbacks. Completely agree that runflats are not magic and able to give you 50 miles no matter what.
I have had 3 tire problems in the past 15 years, all on different Lexus RX's:
1 -- Rusty rebar punctured my tire directly through the tread in a parking lot in a bad neighborhood. I was wearing a suit but worked carefully and didn't get grease on it while I changed the tire to my donut and stayed aware of my surroundings. I was 20 miles from home and in this scenario I believe a runflat would have allowed me to drive home, carefully, and I would have preferred that and driven to a tire dealer in the AM.
2 -- I clipped the edge of a granite curb while turning into a parking lot on a frigid day, about 10 degrees F. Immediate loss of pressure and a damaged sidewall. Again I changed the tire but it was dangerous as the parking lot was a steep slope and the car was precarious on the jack. I believe a runflat would have allowed me to drive home.
3 -- The really bad one -- a pothole in the rain with an immediate loss of pressure and damaged sidewall again. Narrow busy road with poor visibility at night and I did not feel safe changing the tire or even to get out and look at it. Waited 45 minutes for a tow truck and he blocked traffic and changed the tire for me. I was 10 miles from home but the tire was far less damaged than any of these pictures so I believe I could have made it home, but worst case I believe I would have made it to an exit and that would have been much safer.
Side note ... I find the 20" low profile tires are more vulnerable to damage as there just isn't a lot of air if you hit a curb or pothole. I buy the highest trim level which get the larger wheels so it was one of the reasons I opted for 19" third-party wheels to hold my runflats.
RFTs are not right for everyone but given the issues I've experienced in regular tires I do believe runflats would give me useful capability. I have never experienced an actual blowout as described above, and I hope I never do. It is one of the reasons I change my tires on the early side.

 

My previous two cars were a Cadillac ATS – I liked it so much I bought it twice. Both came with the Michelin run flats, and which are easily the worst tires I’ve ever experienced. I think they’re dangerous and in general I can’t believe they’re even allowed on the road run flat in general because they have no grip even with slightly damp pavement, the rear wheels would start spinning on the pavement, starting up from a traffic light. The final straw was with the 2nd ats I owned. I was going downhill at 45 miles an hour in dry weather on a left-hand curve. The rear end of the car started to slide out to the right. I replaced the run flats with Michelin cross climates on all four corners. It was worth the risk to have a better driving condition, then to have a run flat tire or no spare. I am sure, as soon as these run flats on the NX wear out I will be replacing them with conventional tires.

 

I've been running the oem RF on my NX for last 3 years with no problems. I, at my age can no longer change a tire on the roadside in a rainstorm. AAA in my area is not dependable, last blowout I had AAA never showed up. My wife and I are empty nesters and share the NX. I have comfort knowing when my wife is out on the road by herself and has a tire issue, she can drive to the nearest tire dealer. I'm unwilling to carry a full size spare tire in the back in a car that was not designed for it and lose all my storage. Tire noise I read here, I blame mostly on the road surfaces with different textures. I used to live in a city that had a long viaduct with many bridges. All the decks had been resurfaced over the years at different times so now when you drive over them you get a different high pitch sound. It was like driving over a sound instrument.

I don't believe Lexus would equip their vehicles with RFT if they wern't safe. So I'm staying with them. For those that think they aren't for them so be it.

 

Your needs on Florida roads will be somewhat different than my needs in Idaho. We have three months of serious winter here. Furthermore, we don’t get anywhere near the rain you see. Average year is around 11 inches of total precip, including snow. Due to the severity of our winters, many of our roads experience potholes and frost heaves. With that in mind, I do appreciate your point regarding the benefits of runflats, but I am actually more concerned about winter traction. The stock RFTs do not have very good winter reviews on TireRack. I haven’t noticed noise or ride quality issues like some owners have indicated, but this will be my primary driver when the snow starts.

 

RFTs are so misunderstood. They claim a confidence level that is not at all deserved. If your low tire pressure yellow warning light comes on go to a tire store.


YMMV,
MidCow3

 

And hope the tire store is within 50 miles.

 

Run normal tires and hope the tire store is within 50 feet.

 

Over 95 % of the time within 2 standard deviations. Main issue: tire puncture, slow leak.

Slow puncture sitting ( However , usually not 50 miles away, okay tire goes flat, if at second house also have tools/pumps); pump up: tire pump or electric pump

YMMV,
MidCow3

P,S, - RFTs are supposedly only good for 50 miles, so they don't meet your criteria either