Driving on the A3 around Portsmouth yesterday, heard a loud bang from behind and stopped immediately. Rear left tyre blown. When I got it off the car I was a bit surprised to find that it actually was missing large chunks from the sidewall. It's really strange, because it hasn't got any nails in the thread. It just exploded.

I am looking for another Bridgestone ER300 to replace the popped one. Please, suggest the cheapest way to get one fitted in Portsmouth area.

You don't really want another ER300, they're not very good. Have a look on www.camskill.co.uk and then get a local fitter to put it on for you.

Steve

Lucky escape! Hard to inspect inner side walls without crawling under the car. I would be contacting Bridgestone for a request for inspection.

These were the tires that came originally with the car. Two seasons used now, about 12k miles, which is not that much to be honest.

The other 3 have 50% life more and I have a brand new ER300 spare, so I thought that I can buy a new one and fit the new and the spare at the front and put an old one as a spare.

The majority of blowouts are caused by underinflation, the sidewalls heat up because they are in contact with the road more and become more elastic and weaker, worth checking the others.

Went to Kwik Fit (near Commercial Road in Portsmouth) to get the tyre from the spare on my alloy and I am very happy with the result. The guys were careful, put a cover on the white seat before getting in the car. At the end when I wanted to pay, they just didn't wanted my money, got a freebie. Very nice lads! I recommend them!

On a side note, I still have the the popped tyre. I am wondering if I should contact Bridgestone or not?

Can't hurt to! Lay it on thick saying you span off or something and that the tyre must of been defective etc.

Glad you experience with kwik fit was okay, i've had quite a few issues recently!

Do you have a tyre on the spare? If you don't i'd get one fitted, maybe just a cheapo budget for emergencies. Most breakdown companies state they won't help you change a tyre without a serviceable spare.

Is it not illegal to drive without a spare, unless you have a can of tyre repair foam to hand? That looks similar to a runflat i've seen off of a X5 today, although no large chunks are missing. Just that the car had been driven too far on the runflat and the sidewalls had eventually given up the goat.

Edited 28 November, 200916 yr by Browny_37

I am looking to order something to put on the spare now, still wondering if I should put a budget cheapo or order another ER300.

Don't pay for the privilege of putting another ER300 on there. They're not worth the money. If it were me I'd fit something like a Kumho KU31 on there - £50 from Camskill for your size. A very decent tyre, much better than the Bridgestone and £30+ less to boot!

Steve

I am looking to order something to put on the spare now, still wondering if I should put a budget cheapo or order another ER300.

If the spare is steel, then i'd just put a "cheap" but branded tyre on.

You shouldn't drive above 50 with a space saver, but you wouldn't leave it on. Same applys here - you wouldn't leave a steel on, so why do you need "the best" tyre.

Regarding spare, my understanding was that you don't need a spare, but if you have one the tyre must be legal. You have no tyre, thus it can't be illegal.

The deal with the "can" is that most people want some sort of "get me home".

had given up the goat eventually.

lolololol

lolololol

Ok theeeeen lol. In all honesty though the sidewalls had completely torn apart, right through the reinforcing. Just before anyone says it should be "given up the ghost". Heres a link to the alternate expression....http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/english/714/goat/

As for a tyre on the spare, i've had a £30 Accelera put on mine at the moment. Nothing as serious as the Vredsteins.

Remember when ordering a spare make sure it has a non-directional or asymmetric tread patten.

Remember when ordering a spare make sure it has a non-directional or asymmetric tread patten.

Thats frickin good advice, didn't think of that!

Remember when ordering a spare make sure it has a non-directional or asymmetric tread patten.

Good point! I never thought of that until you mentioned it!

Remember when ordering a spare make sure it has a non-directional or asymmetric tread patten.

Yes, very important indeed. Thanks!

This rules out most of the popular vRS tyres. Rain Sport2, KU31, FK452, T1-R, GSD3, Sportrak3s are all directional. I think the new Falken (ZE912) will be OK.

I think the new Falken (ZE912) will be OK.

They are asymmetrical and a damn good tyre

You shouldn't drive above 50 with a space saver, but you wouldn't leave it on. Same applys here - you wouldn't leave a steel on, so why do you need "the best" tyre.

The Fabia vRS has a full size spare, with a tyre fitted at the same size as the rest of the OEM alloys. So there's no issue of 50 speed limits or limited mileage...

Steve

Guess this is a good thread to tag onto........................

The spare in my Vrs is a new Continental Contact Sport.... The full size steel spare has 50mph stickers on it - I think this is safe for normal motorway speed eg 70mph and a bit.

Please confirm if this is ok.

I have Toyo T1R on my car which I am getting fed up with the cost ....wear rate, directional tread which limits swap overs and they suck up nails and screws.

Having said that I would miss them.....apart from in snow.

I may put the spare Continental plus another! on the front and run out Toyo on rear.

Edited 30 December, 200916 yr by PHILE

I would of thought a full size steely would be fine above 50 mph? unless it has a different rotational circumference to the alloys.

The spare in my boot has a brand new michelin pilot sport on it, thinking it must of been there since it was new! Did skoda swap over the tyres that came with the car or something?

Skoda fit whatever tyres are available at the time, Michellin, Continental, Bridgestone and Dunlop have all been supplied on new Skodas

im getting rainsport 2's on mine fave tyre ever! also i would put in a complaint and get it sorted my make got quite a big settlement on his!

Now then the law states that if you have a spare then it needs to be roadworthy however there is no law stating you must have a spare. you can get around this with a can of tyreweld that is technicaly a spare. (not having a spare is not an MOT failure but having a unroadworthy one or one that canot be used on both sides of the car is!)

The reason there is no law on carrying a spare...... Bikers!

Edited 30 December, 200916 yr by lex2311