mattp: (me by wall)
[personal profile] mattp
I'm perfectly fine before you read the next bit and start to worry.

I had a tire blow out on the motorway earlier. Well, to be less dramatic, it happened in stages. The M61 (just south of where it joins the M6) merges into 2 lanes, an around the same point I noticed the road noise getting louder. Often this can be due to a change in road surface, though I noticed no colour change. It got gradually louder over the course of 10 seconds or so. Then the steering started fighting me, so I pulled over. Just as I entered the hard shoulder there was a massive thud, and my tire shredded. Having pulled over, I got out my flourcescent jacket (hmm, maybe it was a bad idea picking it up as I left this morning) to make myself visible and then investigated. I wish I'd taken a photo of it, as it was quite impressive.

I was most impressed by how it failed gradually, as a sudden explosion could have been a lot more dangerous.

I was about to jack the car up to change the tire, and then noticed that it had wheel nuts with an alan ke. The tire kit had no such key. Pissed me right off, that did. I called the VW service number and someone was with me in about 30 mins. Turns out that the alan key caps are just that - flimy plastic caps and the wheel nuts are behind. Grrrrr. I would've been able to change the tyre myself, had I known. Obviously designed by someone who considered form over function, as it's an incredibly misleading visual cue. (Jeff Raskin would have a field day). The roadside assistant starts to change the tire and it's one of the Space Saver tyres, on which you shouldn't exceed 50mp/h. I'm going to Paisely. Sure, like I'm going to crawl along. To add to the annoyances the first 2 tyre places we went to didn't have the right kind. 3rd time lucky, thankfully. Back on the road after aobut 2 hours.


Just reached Carlisle, and then my oil light started flashing. It's a good thing I carry spare oil with me.

Let's hope this hasn't set a precedent.

On the topic of being prepared, I always try to carry the following items with me, because one never knows when they might come in useful: Spare oil, spare fuel, sleepig bag, blanket, change of clothes, water.


Hope your day is better than mine. I've now finished lunch and will drive the remaining 60 miles.

Date: 2005-08-16 11:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] valkyriekaren.livejournal.com
That sounds scary - glad you're OK.

Date: 2005-08-16 11:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] emmy-mallow.livejournal.com
I'm really you are safe.
Hope the rest of the trip goes better for you.
XXX

Date: 2005-08-16 11:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] plushy.livejournal.com
Yeesh! Glad you're okay. Will take a cue from you and be super prepared when we drive to London this weekend!

Date: 2005-08-16 12:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kelemvor.livejournal.com
That sounds nasty, and I echo sentiments of relief.
*Double-checks puncture repair kit in standard cycling rucksack*

Date: 2005-08-16 12:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] phuturatica.livejournal.com
aww hope your days gets better! ♥

Date: 2005-08-16 01:31 pm (UTC)
barakta: (Default)
From: [personal profile] barakta
Yeah sounds pretty much like our toolkit although we have allen keys too - mainly because we had 4 sets of them, and everything inside the FotA's dash compartment was allen keys in sizes we didn't previously own.

Glad you are alright and got going eventually.

Date: 2005-08-16 03:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darkgoddesskim.livejournal.com
*hugs* Sounds like quite a day...

Date: 2005-08-16 04:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crazylazyhazy.livejournal.com
i hope it got better, thats one hell of a bad day.
although i was talking to my boss about cars yesterday, he has a super-fancy merc. he now carrys a small hammer under the drivers seat.
all the electronics went wrong one day, and he was trapped inside. doors, windows, sunroof, none would open!
luckily he could start the engine, drive over to a friends house and get him to smash the window!

i like my keys and windy windows! :D

Date: 2005-08-18 11:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] syllopsium.livejournal.com
eeek.. You may want to look at 'Run Flat' tyres with reinforced sidewalls if they're appropriate for your car.

Date: 2005-08-18 06:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dineleeeee.livejournal.com
eeek! blowout doesn't sound fun
but being prepared in a car sounds like a very sensible idea

plastic caps on the wheel nuts.....not a surprise for a shiny new car

(also, i had a minor mishap with a car on wednesday, but no one was hurt)
(deleted comment)

Re: off topic

Date: 2005-08-21 11:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mattp.livejournal.com
Was good to meet you too. ANd do try to come along. It's an excellent weekend and is the highlight of my year.

Date: 2005-08-21 07:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] johnnydefective.livejournal.com
hiya, james m here, am friending you

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