Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting weird tire stuff

I was driving along today, didn't see anything in the road... all of a sudden I hear this POP! and thought I felt something in the front driver-side tire, but wasn't at all sure. As soon as I can I pull off the road and look at my tires, I can't see anything wrong from any angle. Figure I might've ran over some kind of practical joke and was the amusement of some idiot kids out there?

I got back on the road and everything felt okay for a couple minutes, then I lost some feeling especially on the left side. Another couple minutes and the ride became pretty soft, I was sure I was going to have to just park it and call some friends.
But, it didn't seem to get any worse and I made it to a gas station. Used the tire pressure gauge on the air pump - get this - the tire pressures were between 45-50 psi!!! I double checked everything and then started off again. Still felt soft but wasn't getting any worse.

I usually like to keep my tires at 38psi, lately it kind of felt like they were running maybe 33 or so, and after the incident the driver side of the car (particularly the front) felt like about 20. I did have a dealership do a full alignment a little while ago, but I can't see why they'd boost my psi up? The tires weren't too hot either. I know what 45psi tires feel like, and these were not it.

Any idea what is going on here?
(+ sorry for the long post, just had to explain it since it's so weird)

Oh yes and the tires haven't lost any more pressure in about an hour.

Do you seriously keep your tires at 45 psi? Wow!! I keep mine between 32 and 35 psi. You have some serious pressure in those tires..

yeah dude, you need to let some air out. you have way too much in them. your car must ride like a lumber wagon. ford only recommends like 31/33 for front/rear. i keep 32 in all four. i get around 30 mpg on highway, and 27 in city. alot softer ride too, and the tires will last longer, not to mention your steering/suspension systems.

ok well...as you already know...or not...the tires will heat up due to friction with the road surface while driving some 5-15 degrees depending on how your driving. Could be the inside of your tire broke...like the cord or became rubber layers became seperated. This happends either due to a manufaturing defect, old tire, weather or driving at some point in time about the speed rated for your tires.

When I was an aircraft mechanic we had the same problems...just a different scale.

rainshdw

Okay sweet thanks for advice, I wondered if it might be something like that. I just don't know enough about the construction of tires to know quite what it was. But that makes sense.

EDIT: serves me right for not checking EVERYTHING after having it in for service :rolleyes:

That gauge on the pump might not be too accurate either. We had one downtown that was always off 5-10 psi. Just something else to think about.