Words well and truly eaten...

[Fen]

I think it was on here a week or two ago that I posted I wasn't worried by not having a spare wheel as I hadn't needed one for what must be over 1/4 million miles.

Well, last night at 70 and a bit (the bit may have been 40, but it may not ) on a quiet M4 I had a right rear blowout. Sudden bang followed by beeping from the dash and a red tyre pressure warning symbol. To its immense credit the car didn't bat an eyelid and I just lifted off the power and coasted to the jn6 off slip to call the AA. The downside was that they couldn't locate a 255/35 19 Y high load tyre of any brand at 1am so I had to get relayed to Swindon where I was staying overnight which took from 00:40 when I called the AA until 04:10.

It also meant I didn't really get to choose my next tyres as the option at Swindon Audi this morning was Continental or Pirelli, so it got another Pirelli. I had planned to get the wheels powder coated and a set of PS2s fitted. Of course the tyre wasn't exactly cheap at £238 all-in, but I consider I got off lightly given that the tyre didn't disintegrate damaging any bodywork or worse still pitching me into the central reservation and I was going to have to replace it soon anyway. Going to Audi meant it was in stock and it was close to the hotel plus I got free coffee, another drool over a B7 RS4 Avant or more specifically the seats in it (and an S5 but I didn't really fancy it) and they printed off the history of my car for me.

Anyone know the cheapest place for 3 Pirellis? I can't even sensibly use the Kwik Fit buy 3 get one free deal now if it's still on (unless anyone wants one new Pirelli for some reason?)

[Rich_C]

Well done to both you and the car ... comforting to know the car can handle a blow out. I've got to say such an event scares the crap out of me and you did really well not to instinctively brake. A few months back I was in the middle lane on the A1M when the car in front had a blow out - a few milli-seconds later I saw the guys brake lights come on followed by the car pitching immediately into a spin ending up with him hitting the central reservation going backwards at something like 50mph. He and his passenger walked away but the car had taken one hell of a beating.

Rich.

[GardinerG]

I second that, glad you and the 6 came out unscathed!

[rjpatrick]

Nice to see you emerge unscathed (and the car of course).

I'm with SteveH and have kept a spare which lives in the boot (well fills it really) until we go on holiday (perhaps an Avant would be a better idea after all). Grant has my other spare and I think he's heading the same way - also useful if you need to get any work done on the wheels. If the new owner won't buy it from me would you be interested? It has a good hardly worn PS2 on it?

Yours

Richard

RS6 Black/Black (for sale)

[Fen]

Thanks all. To be fair I was tired and it probably took half a second to dawn on me what was happening by which time the car hadn't so much as twitched so backing off was natural rather than something I thought to do consciously. It might have been different if the car had got unsettled, it had been a front tyre or the tyre has started to shred and flail the bodywork.

I think having a spare is a good idea, but realistically I probably wouldn't carry it often so I might just have been more annoyed at having one in the garage. I'm also now thinking "lighting never strikes twice" to some degree. I might still be interested in having one if yours is available Richard as it is handy to be able to put one on the car to free up a wheel for all sorts of reasons and I would at least have the option to carry it.

[tartan_rob]

Fen - My car is in there just now having a few bits done - shame you never had the chance to get a post in, I'd have told you where to go in Swindon for cheap tyres in your size....oh well...

[CarlosV]

Tartan Rob - I'm not too far from Swindon and all of my tyres are due soon, a bit more tread before the rain comes back would be a good idea. So do you know where I could go, as I'm just starting to look for a good deal.

[ZeroK66]

I wish the S4 had a pressure indicator... I think that could help you in the moment realise what the problem was and NOT brake... it an ordinary car with no warning, just a noise and the car feeling very strange one would instinctively brake while wondering what the problem was... especially those (like me) who have never had a blow out or high speed puncture before.

Lets hope I react as you did if this ever did happen to me. Well done and glad to hear no harm done

[dace]

Pneus on-line are pretty reasonable for tyres

[alangjones]

The key is NOT touching the brakes as you say. My best was blow out at 115 outside lane on M6 in 1978 on my BMW E3 3.0 Si [ homologated for group 5/6 racing--detuned but brakes and suspension 5/6 rated] Never forgotten, a big BANG, slight tremor but nothing until I was doing 20mph on the hard shoulder when the slight snaking and lurching ocurred when began braking. Trying to gradually change lanes in traffic to get to hard shoulder and not touch brakes was character building and certainly tightens the old recto-anal muscles !!!!
Had wife and 2 and 1 year old kids on board SCARY. The Michelin XWX sidewall had blown. Got tyre changed went on my way and got second blow out at 90, of the spare, same place-side wall. Turns out tyres were faulty and Michelin replaced them free and paid for the new one as well as the cost of the call out change by rescue at side of M5.
Never had blow out before or since but remembered being told never touch brakes. Mate of mine had blow out a while later at about 60 in his Allegro, braked and rolled 6 times, in hosp for couple weeks with several broken bones. Off work months.

[BigMo]

moral - never by an allegro - stick with the RS6

[alangjones]

AAAmen to that. I have ContiSports on at the moment and they are superb. And wearing really well. Worth a try.
If ,though, I had the choice I would go for 18" rims and not the 19" ones. Less kerbing and softer ride in the UK. Just driven to Switzerland. Oh the lane discipline and lack of trucks over the weekend. An utter joy, such smoooooth roads. Only prob is frogland, the Jolly Jendarmes were out for us Rost Biffs, tried for 7 secs !!!!! to get me with a laser from a farm track at side of Mway and then 20 miles later had a static radar, side on, hidden by forest. !! Also swarming like flies on a merde at the Toll booths. Answer, Blat for a while,yippee, then stop for a coffee, work your time then pootle. You can use the DVD sat nav to see where your next toll is and the nearest pissoire for the stop. Wonderbar. Manifique.
Hurrah for Valentine 2 and M20 Blinders.

[GardinerG]

I have ContiSports on at the moment and they are superb. And wearing really well. Worth a try.

Sorry but IMHO I think they are rubbish; I'm used to the stickiness of Toyo's although I guess they wouldn't last as long on the RS6. Not sure if I will go for the Toyos or PS2s next time.

Anyone have the traction ratings for each tyre?

[tartan_rob]

Try the online companies, then Bathwick tyres, Bells and finally Bracknell Batteries and tyre's.

[tartan_rob]

Try the online companies, then Bathwick tyres, Bells and finally Bracknell Batteries and tyre's.