New tires- more prone to flats?

[ubercrap]

I put this in the general area because it doesn't pertain specifically to custom wheels/tires for VW's, but to tires on any vehicle. It has been my experience as well as those of many people I know that new tires seem to be more prone to getting flats from nails and screws. It has happened so many times, that I have this feeling in my gut that it might not be coincidence. I have just two thoeries so far: A. New tires=rubber is softer? B. The tread is tall enough for the screw or nail to get stood up at more of a vertical orientation when the leading edge of the tread hits it, thus more easily puncturing the tire? A worn out tire doesn't have enough tread depth for the nail/screw to flip up as easily?
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'74 412 wagon
(2) '74 412 2dr. sedan
'73 412 2dr. sedan

[beetleboy58]

I had my new chevy 2500hd for two days and had a flat. The 69 c/10 that it replaced never had a flat till i put brand new tires and rims, and not a week later they picked up a screw on an interstate exit ramp. Neither vehicle ever had a flat before or after.

[static]

I always have believed that under-inflated tires are more prone to picking up nails and screws.

Chances are, everyone who is reading this has under-inflated tires.

Now that I mention it, I will go and get some air in mine.

[Glenn]

I got a flat just this past Sunday in a used car I purchased the week before. The tires needed to be replaced anyway, so I changed all 4.

I've put over 106,000 miles on my 99 Accord and never had a flat.

I put 200,000 on my 84 Accord and never had a flat.

I put 468,000 miles on my 74 Beetle and did get 2 flats so far.
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[Tram]

A lot of tires now are being made in China, or from components made in China. I'm actually not surprised to see a thread like this, as it seems LOTS of products don't work like they used to. My wife says that hair dye doesn't cover like it used to, and is suddenly way harsher. The last tube of Super Glue I bought wouldn't glue anything. I've always used JB Weld for steering wheel restorations, but the last wheel I redid I wound up going with a different product because the JB doesn't dry rock- hard like it used to- the crack patches in the wheel started popping out when the wheel got warm in the sun.

Products everywhere seem to be going to hell in the quality control department rapidly. We're outsourcing way too many products and it shows, IMHO.
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[Mr. Unpopular]

Sounds more like global warming than quality control issues.
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[anythelia]

I agree with Tram. American inspectors are only allowed in every 13 years to inspect a manufactureing fascility in China. That goes for tires all the way down the line to medication!! Remember pet foods!

[ubercrap]

Well I wholeheartedly agree that many products have taken a major nosedive in quality in the last few years (I've bought so much stuff now that doesn't even work once), I was more referring that I thought that the tires are more susceptible to flats from nails and screws when brand new, less so when worn. The underinflation theory certainly fits with my recent experience. I put two brand new BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires on the back on my truck because the old ones were almost completely bald, and promptly got flats in both new tires. I'm suspecting the tire place only about 32 psi in both of new tires (flats happened on consecutive days and I checked the second one to get a flat had 32 psi after the one was repaired) as the factory says 41 psi for the rear tires? I guess that really isn't underinflated relative to the range of psi the tires could operate at? Something to think about... Anyway the front tires are old and of inferior quality and almost shot now, and I've never had a flat in those.
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'74 412 wagon
(2) '74 412 2dr. sedan
'73 412 2dr. sedan

[JeffDeWitt]

I think you've just had bad luck.

In the 375,000 miles I've driven my Jeep I only had one flat, and that was in a fairly well worn tire (picked up a roll pin, it punched right through the tread and of course I was about 500 miles from home).

[gt1953]

If by chance you live in a construction area or where the construction is going on trucks on the road do drop stuff like nails and screws. It is gonna happen sooner or later.
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Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

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[Hophead]

Tram, the super glue was old before you bought it. It only has a six month shelf life at most and it should be refrigerated for max life. Almost no manufacturers put an expiration date on the stuff. At smaller stores it could sit on the shelf forever before some one buys it. If you ever see it on a close out sale then it is probably bad.

I started using the stuff back in the eighties for radio control aircraft.
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[Steve White]

I don't think that the poor quality of stuff has much to do with out sourcing. I think it has to do with the fact that it has become so prevalent for people to buy cheap shit before they buy good shit that quality companies are being forced into selling cheap shit to survive.

If you drive over a screw or nail the vintage of the tire doesn't really matter does it? A puncture is a puncture I figure. Soft compound tires vs hard compound might make a diff.

I've had to patch a few tires over the last few years from nails and screws but I haven't had a tire go flat in .... well damn near ever.

[djkeev]

Hi,

Contractors or those who work for contractors often drive Pick up trucks.
Ever peeked into the bed of one of these trucks at a lumber yard or home store?
They most often are a MESS of screws, boards, nails, etc. A literal rolling trash bin. The guy often just flips his tool belt in and it spills half its contents on the bed. He is so busy trying to put food on the table that he never or almost never, cleans up his truck. I saw a cable TV truck once that was filled to the top of the bed sides with old cable, new cable and whatever.
The truck is often older and the tailgate fits poorly, maybe no tailgate at all.
A rain storm happens and the drain holes in the bed are clogged (or non existent) and the entire rolling trash container fills up with several inches with rain.
The guy hops in, drops it into gear and off he goes leaving a shower of water pouring out of the rear of his truck and included in the shower are screws, staples, nails, broken glass, tools, etc. In my experience, they don't care and actually when I've talked to some about it, they get pissed off and defensive. I shared a driveway once with one such truck that was uphill the whole way and dirt. I found more crap glistening in the sun after he moved in and had more flats than my entire life before that.
That is how the roads get strewn with debris.

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[ubercrap]

[Mr. Unpopular]

except instead of the contractor struggling to put food on the table, he's struggling to make the payment on his F-450 crew cab diesel with 12" lift and 40" tires that he uses to pull his race car, ATV's and ski boat.

At least, until the end of the building boom last year.
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[drscope]

Maybe instead of trying to figure out if your newer tires are not made as well as old ones, you should be asking who you pissed off!

It may have nothing to do with what tires you are running
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[richbaker]

i dont get it aint new tires are tough because manufacturers already know the problem of getting a flat tire?

[djkeev]

Hi,

They don't make things like they used to, even some of the basics of life have been altered by industry and global warming. Its the bad air you get today, all the pollution and the particulates in the air today, this ends up inside the tire and rots out the rubber inside making it softer and much more likely to be pierced by an object.
Kind of like lung cancer for tires.

You need to install a really good air filter on your compressor and your tires will last a LOT longer.



Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[djkeev]

Ok,
Seriously.

With your usage of the term "new" What do you mean? New to you on the car? or The tires they manufacture today as compared to yesterday?
As I noted before, I firmly think that overwhelmingly the problem is sloppy contractors. Atlanta is in a building boom is it not? (or a recently busted boom)

That being said and assuming you meant new manufacturing technology...
Tires today FAR exceed the tires of years ago in both initial quality , wear characteristics (you can get 40, 50, 60,000 miles from a quality set of tires today), ability to go at high speeds for extended periods of time and yes, even resistance to punctures.

People are writing in saying they've ONLY had 2 or 3 or even less punctures in their entire LIFE. My grandfather and for that matter my father used to carry the tools (hand tools mind you) needed to not only change a tire on the road but to remove it from the rim, pull out the inner tube, patch the tube, test it for leaks and pump it back up. This was not a job for the faint at heart, this was serious hard work, they also carried overalls and gloves so they could get to the destination looking mostly clean. Add to this the fact that the tires were EXPENSIVE and would wear out rapidly, thus the retread industry was born to save the carcass of the tire and graft on a new wear surface with some grip again.
This was EXPECTED to happen several times on any given trip of any significant mileage and not infrequently around town or in daily use. You may gasp "how did people live with having to do that?" Well, it's not too dis-similar from Windows crashing today on our computers and us really not being bothered by it or it being an unexpected occurance.

Ever see a photo of an older car with not one spare but two or three strapped onto a fender? That's why. These were "wealthy" people who could afford two sets of tires and then had the luxury of fixing the flat ones in the comfort and "warmth" of their barn.

One big factor here is tire quality purchased. You really do get what you pay for. Cheap tires = frequent replacements and poor service during its life. Step up to the sales counter, lay down the bucks needed and you'll drive away virtually trouble free for a mighty long time and lots of miles.
Shop wisely.
To quote an old saying I've seen here on Samba,
"You don't always get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[drscope]

Hey Dave, Have you been over to the new racetrack in Millville yet? We are supposed to be running there July 11, 12 & 13. I'm supposed to co-drive the Enduro in our slow VW Golf on Saturday.

And I'm pretty sure your cousin will be there August 7 - 10 with SVRA!

If you aren't doing anything that weekend, you should come out and run the time trials on Friday and Saturday!

Friday we have a Test & Tune, so you may want to also pass that info along to your cousin. He could come get in some seat time on the new track!

http://www.njmotorsportspark.com/
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