Scrounger
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It is fortunate that everything worked out all right for you. Most tire blowouts are a sidewall failure. And while age and impacts do have an influence, the most prevalent reason is sidewall flex from low air pressure at some tire.
If a tire is operated even for a short tire with low air pressure the sidewall flexes and the inside wall of the tire is weakened. In fact if one breaks down a tire that has been driven with low air pressure there is rubber dust and pieces inside, the rubber is the sidewall failing from inside. When a sidewall fails it can be a zipper tear, because the sidewall opens just like a zipper. However at high speed the entire carcass comes apart because of the energy involved.
The reality is that unless you are the one that has placed the tires in service you really don’t know the history of the tires and things like this can happen. That is why it is especially important to be careful of the tires on used military vehicles because one just never can tell what kind of driver Pvt. Joe Smedley was.
One other note. In the event of a tire failure the first thing to do is stomp on the fuel. Yes I know it sounds strange, but allow me to explain. When a tire fails the vehicles path of direction is disrupted, and one can loose control. By applying fuel you regain directional control, then slowly reduce your speed and if possible stop in a safe place with out the use of brakes, if one has to use the brakes use them like you are on ice.
If a tire is operated even for a short tire with low air pressure the sidewall flexes and the inside wall of the tire is weakened. In fact if one breaks down a tire that has been driven with low air pressure there is rubber dust and pieces inside, the rubber is the sidewall failing from inside. When a sidewall fails it can be a zipper tear, because the sidewall opens just like a zipper. However at high speed the entire carcass comes apart because of the energy involved.
The reality is that unless you are the one that has placed the tires in service you really don’t know the history of the tires and things like this can happen. That is why it is especially important to be careful of the tires on used military vehicles because one just never can tell what kind of driver Pvt. Joe Smedley was.
One other note. In the event of a tire failure the first thing to do is stomp on the fuel. Yes I know it sounds strange, but allow me to explain. When a tire fails the vehicles path of direction is disrupted, and one can loose control. By applying fuel you regain directional control, then slowly reduce your speed and if possible stop in a safe place with out the use of brakes, if one has to use the brakes use them like you are on ice.