Whats it like to have a blowout on the motorway?

[natv4]

I know this thread poses a question, but I found out yesterday and thought it may be worth sharing... (I also have a question)

Basically I was riding at a swift speed (not 3 figures). I was in the outside lane of the motorway (M40 north bound after oxford services) overtaking a car. There was a line of lorries on the inside lane. The surface of the road changed at about the same time as the tyre deflated. The bike immediately start snaking. Probably due to the fact that there was snow on the fields around, I instantly thought that I had hit ice. I took me a few seconds to realise that my tyre had deflated. Then I had the agonising question of which tyre had deflated. I couldn't tell, so I just tried to ease the (now decelerating) bike onto the hard shoulder. One of the trucks had seen me and braked to allow me an exit (Thank you!). Even whilst on the hard shoulder, the bike was weaving and I really thought that I was going to have to bin it. I managed to stay on and, defying belief, it actually got controllable as it approached single figure speeds.

Well, sorry about the rant, but to summarise:

- A blow out (rear) at speed feels like driving on ice, bike snaking everywhere and unable to turn easily (bike tries to stay upright, won't lean).

- I took the following action: (any advice or tips please)
Don't panic
Stay smooth (don't brake hard or accelerate hard)
Indicate and beep horn to alert traffic to your situation
Drift slowly, without turning much, toward the side of the road.
Brake with rear wheel.

- At the time I was unsure which tyre had deflated. Is this silly, would a front be an instant fall?

If you've had any experience in this field please share, maybe it will help someone in a similar situation.

Incidentally, after being recovered (to London for a tyre change - no bike tyre shops were open Monday in the oxford area???!?) I had to ride back up there (for a job) and I saw 2 cars around the same area on the hard shoulder. One of them definitely had a flat tyre. I wonder if someone dropped a load of bolts or something, my tyre had a huge hole in it (1cm ish).
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[SoND]

I'd imagine a blow out on the front tyre will throw you off at high speeds.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Think you pretty much handled it as most of us would, and sounds like you did it calmly.

Had a front tyre go suddenly flat years ago on the FZ (doing about 65 with a pillion, just braking for a 40 limit). Not an experience I want to have again (the tyre valve split). The rolling resistance from a flat tyre is massive and once we had come to a halt it was difficult to push the bike.

All the best

Keith
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[GearboxGeezer]

Having either a chain get locked in the rear wheel or a blow out on the motorway is my biggest fear.

Glad you got out alright, GoodJob

[Jack_Cheese]

I think you handled that spot on. All the advice i've heard is stay calm, and keep it smooth and gradually progress to the hard shoulder.

The typre of blowout also determines how hard it will be to stay on. If your tyre is on its last legs and you have a large, explosive blowout, then you're probably going to eat tarmac. A more progressive deflation via a very small hole or buggered valve is less likely to throw you down the road.

Good work keeping it the right way up

Jack
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[natv4]

It seemed to deflate pretty quick, but I wasn't cornering or applying any heavy power/braking, so I think thats why it was managable.

Its not something I would try again from choice, though it has made me wonder if some off-roading would help in that situation.

Probably not, but that snaking was a really weird sensation, you just can't feel how the bike wants you to react. I can only imagine a front would be far worse, any steering input (you give) is likely to put you onto the rim, and probably spit you off high-side.
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[Groove]

Same thing kinda happened to me, coming up to a roundabout and the bike kept weaving etc. Managed to get round it then turn in a side road. Completly flat

Got my dad to come and pump me up. THat lasted back to the roundabout so i kinda road home the mile or so with a flat tyre

Its sertainly an experience!

If it changes anything it was about 9PM, roads were fairly empty. And getting up to 30 on the straigts wernt a hassle )
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[Aikman666]

Sounds like you handled the situation admirably. Cant say that i would have been able not to panic . Have you had your rims checked? Riding even that distance onto the hard shoulder could have done a bit of damage.
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[minesweeper]

Reminds me of an incident i had earlier in the year, moving to overtake a slow moving car on the a23 i managed to miss a hulking big lump of rock sitting in the middle of the road. The dent it left in my front wheel deflated the front tyre almost immediately at 50mph....

Managed to bring it to a stop without touching the front brake and left a 0 ft brown skid behind my bike

[natv4]

I take it you didn't come off the bike? That sounds very scary. Did it buffet much or snake? Did you think you were going to drop it?
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[minesweeper]

Snaked alittle but just felt realy realy heavy, down geared and used rear brake to bring her to a stop.
Was my own fault and a learning experience, kept her upright so was all good.

[Yeti]

On the way back from dover after a european tour last year a few of the lads decided to go for a play as the motorway was clear (them on ZX10R, ZX9R, ZX7R me on a ZXR400 so i left them to it). They recon they were doing around an indicated 170 when one of the lads on a ZX7R had the front blow out. Apparantly it didnt blow but deflated which was lucky but he managed to keep it up and bring it on to the hard shoulder where under closer inspection we discovered a gash the length of a lighter in the centre of his tyre. How he kept it up i dont know but he managed it!

He was very lucky and if it happened again i very much doubt he would be here today.
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[Aidan]

I've had a rear deflate due to a nail on the motorway. I was thrashing it and thought it was just the cats-eyes as I weaved between lanes. All I felt was the back wheel feel a bit sluggish to keep up with the side to side movement.

All I hope is that it never happens with the front tyre!

I carry a big self tapping screw in my bikes tool kit - screw it tght into the hole and it'll hold pressure to get you home (a few miles - slowly!)

[stinkwheel]

I've had a front tyre blow out on my 125. Proper job, sidewall parted company with the tread for about halfway round the tyre, tube sticking out and everything. Was doing about 60mph at the time, got a major tankslapper but managed to ease it to a halt.

Far as I can make out, best thing is to keep everything neutral and gradually roll off the throttle, then brake really gently using both brakes as you get down to a more sensible speed. Don't really want to shut the throttle fully or brake hard as this will throw the weight of the bike about. Kind of like when you realise you are riding on black ice/diesel, no sudden moves.

As any motocross rider will tell you, momentum overides grip. If you are going in a straight line, you will tend to keep doing so. On that basis, I'm not sure I'd be making a move towards the hard shoulder until the speed had dropped considerably, better not to try to make the deflated tyre (which has a lot of momentum and not a lot of grip) steer as well as turn.

I am pretty sure that to a certain extent the spinning of the wheel keeps the tyre 'up' at speed as the centrepetal force throws the tyre tread out and away from the wheel. Goes totally flat when your speed drops which is why you hear of people having a blowout at silly speeds getting away with it.
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[Valver]

Well done for keeping it upright

I had a front tyre blow out on my EXUP years ago. It blew a hole more than half the circumference of the tyre. I managed to hold it straight from 110mph down to about 30 then it spat me off. Broke my big toe, wrist and totally destroyed my rim, no other damage though as the bike landed on top of me. I can laugh now

[Skub]

With tubeless tyres you get away with a fair bit because the tyre will stay on the rim.

On older bikes once the tyre was flat it wanted to come off the rim,then you are shit out of luck.

Tyre technology has made the possibility of crashes due to a flat much more remote.

With a modern tubeless tyre you can get quite a high speed in a straight line with no air in the tyre whatsoever. Corners you have to slow down or fall off.

I stayed behind a mate for 30+ miles when he had a flat and on the straight he burbled along at a steady 60. the bike remarkably composed.

[senna_f4]

Like this;
https://www.ozebook.com/compendium/tr750/tr750-2/sheene75.jpg

Blowout on the Daytona banking 1975 (Barry Sheene)

lifted from https://www.ozebook.com/riders/sheene.htm

"But in 1975, a blown rear tyre caused him to crash at 280kmh during practice for the Daytona 200 in Florida, shattering his left leg, smashing a thigh, breaking six ribs, fracturing a wrist, and wrecking his collarbone. "

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