Woman killed by exploding tyre

[sjp63]

Unbelieveable, what a tragedy, the chances must be very small, I hope.

Off topic but I recently had a lead acid lawn tractor battery I was holding explode in my face. The casing was shattered and so were my eardrums. Again a freaky accident

[Daston]

That is terrible.

Hear some quite horrid stories about air pressure on the paintballing forums. I wonldnt like to be anywhere near one of the 400psi bottles if it were to go bang.

[perdu]

Tyres, batteries, chemicals in everyday use, it's positively terrifying just how much energy is stored inside them

I once attended a doctor's Ford Granada that had its battery explode inside the bonnet as he tried to start the car

one corner of the white Motorcraft battery had blown off in the explosion and punched its way through the several inches of sound deadening wadding and punched a hole through the steel of the bonnet

when I got there it looked like a pig's ear sticking out of the wrecked metal

This news story is really sad, my thoughts go to her husband

blimey that's awful

[wackojacko]

O that is a touch back with reality, my thoughts lye with the family
RIP

[rallycross]

terrible story, had no idea a tyre could do that

[carl_w]

DozyGit said:

That is why when I park next to a truck/heavy vehicle I NEVER stay parallel to the tyre.

I do the same when passing them on dual carriageways in traffic. Hold back behind the lorry until a gap appears ahead of it and then scoot past. Rinse and repeat. Not keen on driving alongside lorries because of both the exploding tyre problem and the fact they often can't see you.

[Leicesterdave]

carl_w said:

DozyGit said:

That is why when I park next to a truck/heavy vehicle I NEVER stay parallel to the tyre.

I do the same when passing them on dual carriageways in traffic. Hold back behind the lorry until a gap appears ahead of it and then scoot past. Rinse and repeat. Not keen on driving alongside lorries because of both the exploding tyre problem and the fact they often can't see you.

Surely it isn't a very common thing?

[bazking69]

The definition of a freak accident sadly.

[carl_w]

Leicesterdave said:

Surely it isn't a very common thing?

No, but it's also not common to have a tyre explode when it's in your lap, but I bet everyone who reads this will be deflating them now.

Anyway, it was advised to frogleap lorries in this way in Tom Topper's Very Advanced Driving

Edited by carl_w on Friday 2nd April 21:29

[kambites]

carl_w said:

Leicesterdave said:

Surely it isn't a very common thing?

No, but it's also not common to have a tyre explode when it's in your lap, but I bet everyone who reads this will be deflating them now.

Personally, no (although I can't see why I'd ever have a spare wheel on my lap anyway, as the Elise hasn't got one). As terrible as it is, this is only news-worthy because it's so unusual. People die in freak accidents doing things that we all do every day, every day.

[Edinburger]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Dreadful, dreadful story. I'd agree with potholes causing this - especially in Midlothian.

[Herman Toothrot]

That really is a freak accident

A friend exploded a tyre on a pushbike once with the air hose at a garage, it made a big bang and split the carcass - was near 100psi when it went, but thats all it did - split the carcass, no projectiles. I'm suprised a stationary car tyre, especially with a buldge didn't do the same just split at the buldge. How high a pressure do Z3 tyres run at? I don't think I've ever had a car thats had more than 34psi recommended in the tyres.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Friday 2nd April 21:49

[hairykrishna]

The Mythbusters episode with the exploding lorry tyres (Big Rig Myths) is worth a watch. Nasty way to go.

[Holst]

Herman Toothrot said:

That really is a freak accident

A friend exploded a tyre on a pushbike once with the air hose at a garage, it made a big bang and split the carcass - was near 100psi when it went, but thats all it did - split the carcass, no projectiles. I'm suprised a stationary car tyre, especially with a buldge didn't do the same just split at the buldge. How high a pressure do Z3 tyres run at? I don't think I've ever had a car thats had more than 34psi recommended in the tyres.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Friday 2nd April 21:49

I think a pushbike tire will be safer as it has an inner tube.
My grandfather said that he thought car tires with inner tubes were safer but I never understood why, maybe this is the reason.

[grumbledoak]

Holst said:

I think a pushbike tire will be safer as it has an inner tube.

With no real weight or heat from speed to deal with, it's also only made of thin rubber.

A sad affair. I doubt it would have occurred to me that it was still dangerous when removed.

[carl_w]

grumbledoak said:

Holst said:

I think a pushbike tire will be safer as it has an inner tube.

With no real weight or heat from speed to deal with, it's also only made of thin rubber.

A sad affair. I doubt it would have occurred to me that it was still dangerous when removed.

Right, but the volume of air in it is much smaller, too.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

I met a chap with a false lower leg a few years back. After we'd all had a drink or two, I couldn't help asking him what happened to his leg.

He was inflating a lorry tyre at work which went pop. It took his lower leg clean off

[soad]

Jesus Christ

[collateral]

poo at Paul's said:

My neighbour took great delight in telling me he runs his mazda 6 45 series tyres at 50psi nowadays and he gets better MPG......! I'll reming him of it when his centres wear prematurely!

That's semi-suicidal in my book. The contact patch must be horrendously effected by running what's probably close to twice the recommended pressure

[Waugh-terfall]

I need to check my tyre pressures, and I'll admit that I'm a little scared to do so now...