I towed a Beetle home yesterday... wait until you see the tire!

[VW Addict]

I towed a beetle home yesterday and didn't think to physically rub my hand on the tires (rear passenger side), but when I was looking at them straight on- they were all up, in the air, and seemed to be OK-- so I hooked a tow bar and towed it home.

Was I ever lucky... this is what I found this morning when I was cleaning the wheels and tires... how it's possible that it didn't blow, or more surprising it holds air and doesn't leak it beyond me... I was lucky I didn't blow it going 65mph towing it on the interstate!

Whoa!

What I could see before I towed it... looks OK, right?

Looks are deceiving... look at the tread! holy smokes!

[KTPhil]

It is possible they looked fine on the lift, but the tread separated during the tow. You might not have heard or felt it.

[60ragtop]

yep, that is what I was thinking, happened on the tow home.
Either way, luck was involved
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[VW Addict]

[iowegian]

[VW Addict]

[KTPhil]

They were still retreading old tire carcasses back then. Trucks still do, and that's why you see all those rubber tire chunks along the interstates. I don't think any passenger tire company retreads anymore due to liability.

[60ragtop]

That tire was just old and not a retread. And that is a myth about retreaded tires. Most tire alligators come from improperly maintained tires
and they don't retread passenger car tires because of the cost.
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[bvolks]

[Jon Schmid]

You are indeed lucky. At least now, with 5 fresh tires you will know their age. As for trucks, I believe you cannot use recaps on the front tires. Rear tires and trailers are fair game. Either there are more trucks on the road or recaps are being crappily done/poor tire maintenance as almost every day I see "alligators" especially on the freeways, and I don't drive all that far.

[itskyle]

[Cusser]

We've had about six tires explode on the Arizona interstates, at least half were Michelins under 1 year old for which the tire pressures were checked the same day. One had 3-inches only on each rim side, the metal of the wheel was visible; drove 3 miles on shoulder on the metal rim to lighted place to change tire (rim was still usable).

Last time it happened to me, was similar to the posted photos, did not deflate.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[busdaddy]

[Glenn]

[gt1953]

That is one of my pet peeves when I look at vehicle I am interested in purchasing, tires. If they are beyond my personal date code it is an automatic discount of 350 bucks off the asking price.
You are vey lucky.
_________________
Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[itskyle]

[Jon Schmid]

[wcfvw69]

I don't know if I missed it but did you get the manufacture date code off that separated tire?

I'm curious as to how old it is?
_________________
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[16CVs]

Can't be that bad, it got you home.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
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Samba member # 14980
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Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[andk5591]

I laughed.....we hauled home a Super a few months ago - the garage it was in was pretty dark and had to squeeze around to get air into the passenger side tires. Hooked it up and off we went - drove maybe 5 miles and stopped to check the tires since one looked a little low......Pretty much the same as yours....My wife was sweating bullets the remaining 25 miles to the shop....Yeah - recaps don't seem to hold up real well after sitting flat after 20 years
_________________
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