Blew out a Cooper Cobra tire

DrDuc · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 06:38 AM

Coming home from the west side get together Saturday night, the left rear tire blew out on the frontage road just before entering the 101. Shredded the sidewall. I didn't hit anything so can only imagine it was a tire defect. One year old Cooper Cobra Radial GT. AAA was nice enough to get it back to the house. I'll look for a new one today.

Bruce

Karl Bebout · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 09:15 AM

Bruce, not good! Have you perhaps done a search to see if this is an ongoing problem, or hopefully, you were just lucky/unlucky. Lucky, in that it's really rare, or unlucky in that the tires have an issue.

Hope neither you or your car were injured.

Danr55 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 10:13 AM

That's encouraging given that I just switched to Cooper Tires.. I understand that they also build Mickey Thompson Tires..

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 10:58 AM

Wow! A sidewall blowout on a radial tire is uncommon. I agree, either defect or something hit it and punctured, like a bullet. Tire store can examine for reason.

Be Well
AZ Bob

Robert McLinden · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 04:23 PM

I have done this a number of times on my Porsche (you think I would learn). It runs 265/40-18 Michelins. The cause was always me not checking pressure. They are low profile and just glancing at the tire you could be down 5 or more pounds and not notice it. The first one blew at 80+ mph and by the tire I stopped on only had bead left. The second one was a slow leaker and I felt it in time but still had separated the sidewall 75% of the way around. Also these tires run at 36 psi in the rear. It seems the low profile tires with the short sidewalls have no tolerance for running at reduced pressures. On the Michelin's the steel tread belt saws through the sidewall. Just my experience.

DWRAT · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 04:27 PM

Goggle "cooper tire blowout", it doesn't look good.
According to Randal at Cobra Valley the top 3 tires are.
1. Avon's
2. Bill Boards
3. Mickey Thompson SR's
I can tell you the MT SR's hook up really good compared to old Goodyear GT's.

mikiec · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 05:20 PM

Get it replaced and press on. As Robert says keep constant check on pressure. At least you were not hurt nor was the car.

DrDuc · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 05:39 PM

Took the wheel/tire off and down to Discount Tire I went. They had a new one in stock, no questions asked (but also no answers) and it's back on the car,good as new. The sidewall looks like it blew out but as I drove a bit to get to a safe spot, the sidewall was cut all the way around. At least I was only going 45 mph when I noticed it. The 15 inch tires are only running at 24 psi with so little weight on them. I don't know how that affects heat buildup. Hopefully this is the last problem for a while.

timsullivan · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 05:58 PM

I've been running Cooper Cobra GT's on my Cobra since 2010 with great success. I'm running about 22 pds in the back tires and about 24 in the front with no problems at all. Perhaps your installer ****ed up the install resulting in a sidewall failure?

Car Nut · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 06:08 PM

Probably over kicking the tires.

DrDuc · #11 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 10:32 PM

The tires have been good so far- 1 1/2 years old. There's a round-about on Beardsley and there may have been something in the road I didn't see in the dark. Will keep a closer eye on the tires,from now on. Hopefully a once in a lifetime event. Phoenix does seem to have more crud in the roads lately. I had something similar happen last spring on I-10 in a brand new car. Have to keep my eyes peeled!

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #12 (**permalink**) 10-13-2014, 11:44 PM

Stuff happens. Lost a tire once to a broken Swiss Army knife puncture in sidewall of a low profile tire. No tire insurance. $230 for a small tire on a Celica. Sucks.
Son's car, my expense.
AZ Bob

DrDuc · #13 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 05:20 AM

Fortunately, mine cost less than $20.00 to replace. Every once in a while the road hazard insurance pays off.

Danr55 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 05:44 AM

Bruce, Maybe you hit a chuppacabra that was hiding beside the road waiting to ambush someone? I understand there are a few of those out on the west side.. there will be more now that Mikie has moved to New Hampshire. Bob isn't that scary.. or so I'm told by Scotty.

mikiec · #15 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 08:05 AM

What kind of noise does a chuppacabra make? I heard a strange noise last night?

Car Nut · #16 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikiec

What kind of noise does a chuppacabra make? I heard a strange noise last night?

It is a very firm sound, it almost sounds like someone saying MICHEAL in a disapproving tone.

Danr55 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 10:34 AM

No worries Mikie.. Those critters never get more than 200 miles from the Mexican border.. All you have up in New England are Yankees and the occasional Yehti..

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #18 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 10:44 AM

Here's the sound Mikie is hearing. http://tinyurl.com/2oz5wn

AZ Bob

Karl Bebout · #19 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 11:01 AM

Mikec,

"What kind of noise does a chuppacabra make? I heard a strange noise last night"

I think they have Sugarman channeled, but actually sound better.

mikiec · #20 (**permalink**) 10-14-2014, 11:13 AM

Bob, That's it.