An Unusual Flat Tire

slowesty · Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: An Unusual Flat Tire

My wife called me at work today and said the tire was leaking air when she pulled into the driveway and that she thought she had ran over something on the freeway. When I got there I knew right away it was no nail, but I couldn't figure out what it was because only a little pointed tip was sticking out.

I started with the needle nose pliers but had to get the locking vice grips to pull out this "nail". I'm sure you can imagine my suprise when I saw the 3/4 marking as I pulled this out of my brand new tire:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

A frickin' 3/4" drill bit! That sucker went in backwards too! As I look at these pictures again I know it looks fake, but that sucker was buried over 5" into my tire. I love these BFG's and am now even more in love with them as they probably saved my wife's and 2 kids lives. Any other tire, and definetly the old pair I had on there would have blown up and shredded at 60MPH when that sucker hit the tire.

I'm happy to say that I was able to patch up the hole and it has held air for the last 12 hrs. Tomorrow I am going to the tire store and having them pull the tire and fix it the right way.

ChesterKV · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:25 am Post subject:

That's crazy Confused

mr_vanagon · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:12 am Post subject:

I've pulled some crazy stuff out of tires in my days at a tire shop. One time pulled a 15mm craftsman combo wrench out of the sidewall of a truck tire. Also had animal bones a few times. Nasty! Can the bit be made sharp again? The sears folks didn't mind swapping the wrench I found for a new one Very Happy

DAVEURO · Samba Member Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 154

I have seen a pair of adjustable pliers through tire and back out the inside of rim. My favorite was the "one-hitter" marijuana pipe, blunt end first. The nite before I watched a special on new police tacticts with stop strips. They went to hollow spikes to let the air out slightly slower than shredding it to get someone to stop. I ended up giving it to a freind who knew what to do with it besides letting air out of tires. At least you can bore a 3/4 inch hole now. Sorry about the tire.

slowesty · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:

It gets stranger.....

My sister in law (my wife's sister) called from Atlanta and said she ran over a drill bit the same night as my wife! What are the chances of that.

CRAZY.

Alan Brase · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject:

I fear the right way to fix it would be to make a swing out of the tire. If the 3/4" part got into the belts, it would have cut a lot of plies. I suppose the tire tech will be able to see the damage on the inside.
Goos luck.
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

brooklynvan · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:29 am Post subject:

Not to hijack he post, but this is what happened to my tire yesterday:

I thought the suspension was going out it was rattling real bad on the highway, so I pulled over and discovered the source of the rattle.

quite a tumor!!
at least the sidewalls held out...

I guess this is what happens to tires when they sit for too long. I've only had the van 6 mos, and the PO had it sitting for 2 years. I have no idea how old the tires are.

I've been waiting to replace them until I find a set of 15" mercedes steel rims, as I'd rather switch. anyone have any????

I guess I'll be driving on the mismatched spare for a little bit, no long trips though.
_________________
1990 Vanagon "Plain Jane" Bostig in the Back
TRADED: 1967 Panel for 1976 BMW 2002
SOLD: 1984 Sunroof Vanagon with EJ22
RIP 1986 Saab turbo
and my daily commuter: a Bicycle

lovedavdubs · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:35 am Post subject:

Randy in Maine · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:55 am Post subject:

I lost a couple of drill bits lately.

Anyone find them?

Michael J · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:49 am Post subject:

aviatorjames · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:19 am Post subject:

It must be a cordless drill that little munchkin has inside there...

_________________
...some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints...

bljones · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:07 am Post subject:

LOL- illegal leprechaun smuggling

"aye, me wee little friend, when you get across the border, use the drill to make an escape hole... but only once the wheel has stopped going around and around."
_________________
OG JHC
Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

2%

slowesty · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:48 am Post subject:

Quick Update:

The tire fix stuff I carry, the plug system, held up amazingly well for having a 3/4" hole in the tire. Only a little air leaked after a couple days. I took it to the tire store yesterday and they patched it up right.

I recommend carrying some of the flat fixer stuff in your rig. This is what I used, and keep in my van at all times:

http://www.slimesealant.com/product.php?product=1034A


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