The TPMS system in the Passat goes on throughout the winter, every serious cold snap it pops on. Always indicating that one of the tires has dropped below the magical 40 psi mark. Tiger Mom tells me about it when it happens and I put a couple psi in the offending tire and we all go about our day.
Yesterday I was replacing the main tire on the Suburban so I had the air hose out and being a good do-bee I checked the tires on the German ride as well, all 41-42 psi so yay team.
Today TM calls me on her drive home and reports that the car feels funny and the TPMS light is on. Crap. She pulls into the driveway on a complete flat, zero pressure in the tire and the sidewall is scalding hot. Crap crap. Looks like another puncture (matches Saturday nights' run in with a caltrop in the 10 ply Suburban)
That tire is super-berkeleyed. Ever seen the inside of a tire that's been run flat? It will be full of chewed-up rubber, and the sidewall will be very thin. Even if it would hold air again, it is structurally compromised so badly that it would likely come apart within one mile of driving.
Woody
MegaDork
3/27/18 7:50 p.m.
That’s the second time today that I’ve seen the word “caltrop”, and I’d never heard it before this morning.
Who the hell is throwing caltrops in the road?!
In reply to EastCoastMojo :
16th century law enforcement. Lol.
AngryCorvair said:
That tire is super-berkeleyed. Ever seen the inside of a tire that's been run flat? It will be full of chewed-up rubber, and the sidewall will be very thin. Even if it would hold air again, it is structurally compromised so badly that it would likely come apart within one mile of driving.
Oh believe me I know. It was smoldering hot and when I gave it a few psi to find the puncture the sidewall showed several blisters.
And since it's an AWD car it get 4 new tires, yay!!!
In reply to KyAllroad (Jeremy) :
That sucks man. I've been squirreling away dollars for all 4 tires for the MazdaFace for when I inevitably get a puncture .
