Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2003 02:10:31 +0100 From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnopsamfitter.com> Subject: Re: Saab Tire Complaint: Important
milt brewster wrote: > [...] > > Informally; I now think I should consider three possible causes: > Road damage, defective wheel rim design, and defective tires. > > ++++ ROAD DAMAGE > > I drive conservatively, mostly on well-maintained freeways. > Neither blowout occurred after my hitting anything on the road. I > believe it is possible but unlikely that driving conditions or my > driving habits caused the blowout. How often do you inspect your tires for damage? > ++++ WHEEL RIMS > > I have noticed twice now, that my wheel rims are apparently > designed to literally shred any tire on my Saab 9-3 that loses > much pressure at all. Here is what happens: Oh really? Strange that nobody have noticed that before, don't you think? > 1) The tire loses minimal pressure and the sidewall begins to > flex on the rim. This happens in seconds, well before a driver > could possibly notice. So the tires were seriously under inflated! > 2) The flexing causes the tire sidewalls to flex outward. This > brings the tread belt into proximity with the wheel rim edges. > > 3) A ring on the sidewall where the sidewall joins the tread belt > comes into contact with the wheel rim edge well before the tire > loses critical pressure. This creates heat and friction, and > weakens the sidewall. Again, your tires must have been under inflated. Notice that very low profile tires require a higher pressure. For 195 X 60 X 15 it is around 30-32 psi. > 3) Tire pressure continues to drop. On a Saab 9-3, this almost > always brings the tire tread belt to rest INSIDE the wheel rim, > between the wheel rim edges. Obviously, don't drive with incorrect pressures. And if there is a tire problem, then fix it first. > 4) With the wheel rim edges holding the tread belt, the sidewalls > come into contact with the wheel rim edges at the same consistant > ring of points around the tire. Consistant friction and heat at > that narrow contact ring wears the tire out very quickly. But > that isn't all...... > 5) Saab wheel wheel rim edges are rather narrow. Once in contact > with the sidewalls, these wheel rim edges literally cut through > the sidewall in seconds. Blowout. > > I emathise; you don't need to lose much pressure. This design > flaw literally turns a slow leak into a catastrophic blowout in > seconds. > > This is a design safety issue, both for Saab, and for any tire > manufacturer that sells tires for Saab. No there isn't any design issue. The issue is that you haven't looked after the tires; you have probably driven over a sharp obstacle at speed, heard the bump but not investigating any possible damage to wheels and tires. What do you expect us to do? nobody in this group buy into your theory. You have damaged your tires by improper use and now wants to find someone to blame. Sheesh!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
