Blowout Damage
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
Blowout Damage
Had a bit of tire failure yesterday, and wondering if this is something I, by no stretch of the imagination, a paint and body man, can fix. The whole car needs paint anyway, so I don't think I can hurt it. Or can I? Obvious damage in front of the wheel well, also cracking behind the wheel well.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 174
From: Deerfield Illinois
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Wow, glad your safe. Yes it can be repaired, it could have been way worse, I have seen pictures of the whole fiberglass body completely gone around the wheel well. There should be a date stamped on the tires. Curious to see how old they are.
Also check to make sure you didn't damage your brake line or suspension components on that side, shock mount and spring bolts.
Also check to make sure you didn't damage your brake line or suspension components on that side, shock mount and spring bolts.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
Wow, glad your safe. Yes it can be repaired, it could have been way worse, I have seen pictures of the whole fiberglass body completely gone around the wheel well. There should be a date stamped on the tires. Curious to see how old they are.
Also check to make sure you didn't damage your brake line or suspension components on that side, shock mount and spring bolts.
Also check to make sure you didn't damage your brake line or suspension components on that side, shock mount and spring bolts.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Wow.
First, glad you're OK and that the car made it through with only minor damage. Looks very fixable by you or someone else without much drama. Shame it had to take the valence panel out...I hear the reproductions of those aren't all that awesome.
Second, I'm very glad that I finally replaced all of my tires. I had a early-80's BFG T/A tire on my passenger front and knew I was living on borrowed time.
Third, I bet that all of us will have continuing issues with tire age. My "new" back tires are now 2 years old and have perhaps 3,000 miles on them. Probably less. It is VERY EASY to let the tires get old and find better things to spend money on.
Unpopular opinion about tires: Honestly...they should be replaced every 5 or 6 years regardless of mileage. I personally replace the tires on my travel trailer every 3 to 4 years regardless of wear. I have the original tires on my 2012 F250 that I'm going to have to bite the bullet on and replace even though they have copious tread remaining. Bummer.
First, glad you're OK and that the car made it through with only minor damage. Looks very fixable by you or someone else without much drama. Shame it had to take the valence panel out...I hear the reproductions of those aren't all that awesome.
Second, I'm very glad that I finally replaced all of my tires. I had a early-80's BFG T/A tire on my passenger front and knew I was living on borrowed time.
Third, I bet that all of us will have continuing issues with tire age. My "new" back tires are now 2 years old and have perhaps 3,000 miles on them. Probably less. It is VERY EASY to let the tires get old and find better things to spend money on.
Unpopular opinion about tires: Honestly...they should be replaced every 5 or 6 years regardless of mileage. I personally replace the tires on my travel trailer every 3 to 4 years regardless of wear. I have the original tires on my 2012 F250 that I'm going to have to bite the bullet on and replace even though they have copious tread remaining. Bummer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,940
Likes: 35
From: El Cajon California
I had 13 year old tires on my 1978 as well, a forum member told me to replace them even though they had 80% tread. I got new tires last year.
I am glad I did, thank you Corvette Forum!
I am glad I did, thank you Corvette Forum!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 3,554
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
You ARE lucky-could have been worse.
Had a tire tear up my C2 a few years back and Hagerty Insurance handled it w/o any problems.
Have you checked w/ your insurance?
Richard
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,145
Likes: 9,274
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Sooo lucky. Ive seen picks of the fiberglass gone from the wheel well back. Glad your okay, hope you were wearing brown pants. Heres a chance to put on those fender flares........
Stay safe, God speed
Stay safe, God speed
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
When will the public demand that someone ( Congress ) put the pressure on the tire manufacturers to just make the compound in the tires right . They know how to do it they just make more money by making cheap tires. Years ago you could drive safely on twenty year old tires with no problems as long as they had good tread . This is a safety issue that has to be addressed. 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,936
Likes: 54
From: Marietta, GA & Elba, AL
St. Jude Donor '16
While I agree with you, this one is all on me. I should have known to check the manufacture date on the tires before driving it like I was in my forty's again. The good news is USAA is going to cover it, so I can start looking to see what it will cost to fix.