Forum Discussion

RLS7201's avatar
RLS7201
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2021

First front tire blow out....

12 miles north of Pratt, KS., on 61 Hwy, I heard a BOOM from the left front. Tightened my grip on the steering wheel and tapped the brake to turn off the cruise. I managed to hold the steering wheel and turned a little to the right but the coach still drifted about 3 feet into the on-coming lane. Then, as the coach slowed, it jumped to the right and I was back in my own lane. The death wobble was intense until I was almost stopped. Drifted off the Hwy until the left tires were just on the asphalt. Proceeded about a quarter of a mile until I found an intersection to stop at. I have a spare and the necessary tools to change a tire BUT the tire ripped my left front jack hose off the control valve. I couldn't lift the coach to get my hydraulic jack under the axle. Called road service and they had a service truck, from Pratt, there within the hour. The damaged tire and wheel was covered with oil, so I asked the service man to take it to his shop and dismount the tire and wipe down the wheel. Didn't want that oily mess in the storage bay.
Not only did I blow a tire, the shaking caused some electrical issue. We decided to turn around and head back home (Gladstone, MO), instead of proceeding on to Quartzsite. That was about a 600 mile turn around. I will go to the hydraulic shop tomorrow and have a new hose made for the LF jack. New tires are here and all I need to do is dismount the tires & wheels and go use my friends tire machine and balancer.
Now before we go to talking about a Steer Safe, I did not lose control of the steering wheel. So a Steer Safe would have been of no help.

Richard
Class A
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2021
    Too late now, but you could of found a hydraulic shop in Hutchinson or Pratt. Tires are everywhere
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 31, 2021
    Well a steer Safe might have helped by making it EASIER to maintain control. but there is something else you should do

    In one of the forums here is a sticky "Watching these videos may save your life" or some such title..... There is only one video.. watch it.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2021
    A steering stabilizer very well may have kept you from going into the oncoming lane! That could have been bad.
    What electrical issues popped up? What was the age of the tire?
  • Ranger_Smith's avatar
    Ranger_Smith
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2021
    NEVER . . . NEVER . . . NEVER

    Step on the brake with a front tire blowout. You step on the gas then work on slowing down without brakes.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2021
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    NEVER . . . NEVER . . . NEVER

    Step on the brake with a front tire blowout. You step on the gas then work on slowing down without brakes.


    Most vehicles I have driven, the only way to disengage cruise control and maintain a grip on the wheel is tap brake or clutch pedal. Would be willing to bet the OP does not have the 2nd option
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2021
    JRscooby wrote:
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    NEVER . . . NEVER . . . NEVER

    Step on the brake with a front tire blowout. You step on the gas then work on slowing down without brakes.


    Most vehicles I have driven, the only way to disengage cruise control and maintain a grip on the wheel is tap brake or clutch pedal. Would be willing to bet the OP does not have the 2nd option


    The cruise controls on my F53 based motorhome are on the steering wheel within easy thumb reach while maintaining a grip on the wheel.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2021
    Dutch_12078 wrote:
    JRscooby wrote:
    Ranger Smith wrote:
    NEVER . . . NEVER . . . NEVER

    Step on the brake with a front tire blowout. You step on the gas then work on slowing down without brakes.


    Most vehicles I have driven, the only way to disengage cruise control and maintain a grip on the wheel is tap brake or clutch pedal. Would be willing to bet the OP does not have the 2nd option


    The cruise controls on my F53 based motorhome are on the steering wheel within easy thumb reach while maintaining a grip on the wheel.


    Most hands, the thumb is the strongest digit. From the time steering knobs where declared unsafe, anytime except the most relaxed driving, or tight low-speed maneuvering, thumb has been wrapped around the rim of wheel.
    Note, I do not advocate hitting brakes when the tire blows, but a touch of the pedal to trip a switch is not same as hitting the brakes.
    The OP brought his ride to a stop, with the dirty side down, and without hitting anything. No keyboard driver has a right to tell him he did wrong.
  • wallynm's avatar
    wallynm
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2021
    Do you have a TPMS and if so did it give you any warning. In theory ours alarmed after a 20% lose of air pressure. In your case this could have been instantaneous.

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