Re: IML: Old Cars, Old Tars

["Blomberg" <blomberg@xxxxxxxxxx>]

In response to Mark's posting re his blowouts, I would like to repost something I wrote back in April. It is amazing how neglected our tyres are sometimes. I am so glad it all worked out well for you Mark. 

Posted April 2004

During the time I have been reading the post's re tyres and the longevity of them etc etc, I have not read much re safety issues directly. I would hope that the basis of the discussion has evolved from a safety angle i.e.; how long do we keep our tyres before they become a safety issue. Well I hope that this is the root thought and it's not a monetary reason. 

 

In my profession there are many times when I will have to drive at very high speeds in a variety of traffic conditions. As we all know the higher the speed then the more pressure is placed on the tyre. When cornering, braking etc the likelihood of a tyre failure rockets upward. We use the latest vehicles which are replaced approximately every six months. When we receive them new they are fitted with a "Police Pak" which includes the very best tyres filled with nitrogen. Apparently there is minimal leakage with the nitrogen and it gives a smoother ride.

 

When I am working I don't have to worry about wether the tyre will hold up as I take a sharp corner at speed or bake heavily etc etc, but I do see the consequences of people not having decent tyres on their vehicles. Road carnage is a terrible sight to come across. The human body is remarkable in the way it can take punishment, however it does have limits. Having said that I have seen people die as a result of crashing at 30k's and people survive at 200k's. Unfortunately I have attended many deaths as a result of road accidents and here is the scary part, many of those people would be alive today had they had decent tyres on their vehicles. I have seen every conceivable condition of tyre from totally bald with the wires protruding from them to "as new" looking but with a baldish spot in one area due to a previous high speed skid. I have seen what looked like new tyres however on closer examination I saw cracks along the walls which have caused a blow out.

 

I just want to share with you all what I do with my own vehicles. I buy very good quality tyres every 2 years - yes 2 years. I inspect them weekly and make sure that they contain the correct air pressure. Regardless of how they "look" after 2 years they are changed - and I wont go near a retread. Some may say "that is too soon - don't waste your money". To that I say this. There is literally only a few square inches keeping us on the road, carrying the weight of the vehicle, turning corners, braking, accelerating not to mention steering - only a few square inches. In my veh I have my 7 year old girl my 8 year old girl and my wife not to mention other peoples children sometimes. We are not going to be laying in a wreck when some Cop says "They might have had a chance if only the tyres were sound".

 

I might spend $600 every 2 years $300 per year $25 per month 83 cents per day to ensure that my family will never have to worry about whether the tyres will give way. What price for the safety of our loved ones - 83 cents per day. Less than the cost of a can of Coke.

 

Stay Safe

 

Larry Blomberg
(1960 LeBaron Sedan)

 

  http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1960/Blomberg/Page01.htm

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Mark McDonald

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 12:58 PM

Subject: IML: Old Cars, Old Tars

I just wanted to share this little story with everyone in case I can
save a few lives, and since it seems I am destined to become the man
who has had the Most Blow-Outs in an Old Imperial.

To make it as brief as possible, you cannot let your old car sit around
for long periods of time with old tars (i.e., "tires") on it and then
expect to hop in and take a 5 hour cruise at 70 mph to a
Packard/Imperial meet and expect everything to be hunky dory.  I mean,
it may be possible, but not in my experience.

This Saturday, about 2 hrs. out of my hometown on my way to Anniston I
noticed a shimmy, or a weird vibration, in the front of my '68 Crown. 
Having gone thru this experience before I recognized it as one of the
symptoms of a bad tire.

"Gosh dang it, I'm about to have a blow-out!" I thought to myself
[language edited for IML].  Well, almost as soon as I had that thought
and started to look for a place to pull over, it went KA-BLOOIE!!!

Now, this was not your casual blow-out.  No, I never get those.  This
was not "I say, Muffy, did you hear a pop?"  "Why yes, dear, I believe
I did."  "Do you think we ran over a paper cup, perhaps?"  "Why no,
goodness gracious, I believe we've blown a tire!"  "Do you really think
so, Muffy?"  "Yes, lumpkins, I think we should pull over right now to
check it out."  "In that case, I believe I will, Lovey Dove."

No, this was "Holy &*%#!!! Grab something and hold on, we're about to
die!"  That kind of thing.  The tire actually took the liner of the
wheel well and unpeeled about 6 inches of it from the wheelwell.

Anyway, prepared as I was, I limped off the roadway and no one was
hurt.  Eventually I made it to Anniston.  The last time something like
this happened to me was in my '68 convertible, and I have compiled this
list of contributing factors:

1.  The tires were at least 10 years old
2.  They looked fine (means nothing)
3.  The car had sat for at least 3 months
4.  The tires were underinflated (one was at 24 psi)
5.  I inflated them to 35 psi before the trip
6.  I was doing highway speeds for an extended period of time
7.  Prior to the blow-out the car started to shake as if going over a
washboard surface, even though the highway was smooth

So my advice to all you Imperial owners out there is, don't let your
car sit in one place, and DON'T expect old tires to get up and do the
work of new tires after they've been sat around in the garage for a
long time!  And also, if you have a major blow-out, just relax and
gently guide the car over.  They're harder to steer but not impossible.

Hey, good luck & enjoy!

Mark M