Mumbai - Pune Expressway Zen accident - Team-BHP

emkay456 · 10th September 2007, 15:57

Was witness to a spectacular accident of a Zen on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on the stretch parallel to New Panvel. A Zen coming on the fast lane from Pune had a tire burst and literally took off over the median barricade. Luckily or unluckily the jump over took place exactly over a underpass where the expressway has two different bridges from both directions with a gap in the middle. The car went right through the gap grazing the walls on both sides and landed on the ground below.

Miraculously all the 4 family members survived and were taken away in an ambulance. The maximum theywould have suffered would be any bone dislocations and lacerations. The vehicle was a total wreck. Probably the reason of the people surviving was the roof of the car did not cave in.

The B Pillar buckled a bit. The bonnet was twisted beyond recognition. As the vehicle impacted the ground on its base, the chassis seems to be writeoff. The dashboard had caved in with all glasses gone.

All in all an astounding accident bec. of bad tyres.

akshay1234 · 10th September 2007, 17:11

i dont know why people speed when they have bad tyres.

bblost · 10th September 2007, 17:32

because they dont know/ realise it.

Most often someone is hired to do the cleaning of the car, the owner driver never touches any part of the car except the driving controls.
Generally I make it a point to feel thru the entire car/ bike atleast once a week.

shake everything and search for any loose ends and so on.

(IMO) Under inflated tyres are more prone to bursting.
check air preasure once a fortnight.

akroy · 10th September 2007, 17:43

That is indeed Bizarre incident, lucky all are safe...

you never know the reason, sometimes under inflated tyres can also cause the burst...

Abhi

lohithrao · 10th September 2007, 18:07

Scarry, hope they are fine soon.

also next time they make sure that the tyres are in good shape and rightly inflated.

dadu · 10th September 2007, 18:50

Concrete roads heat up the tyre more and specificaly on continuous high speeds, its a sure shot recipe for disaster if you couple it with bad/worn out tyres.

Never drive over 80 Km/hr on concrete roads for longer period.

iraghava · 11th September 2007, 02:08

Whatever the road conditions may be, what we forget first of all is that the tyres on our cars are made of Rubber & so have a fixed life after which they are useless and dangerous.

Unfortunately most people prefer to ignore rather than pay attention to the small 4 patches of rubber keeping them on the road and ultimately pay the price for it.

anandpadhye · 11th September 2007, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

(IMO) Under inflated tyres are more prone to bursting.

Why?
I thought over inflated ones will be more likely to burst...

carboy · 11th September 2007, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadu

Concrete roads heat up the tyre more and specificaly on continuous high speeds, its a sure shot recipe for disaster if you couple it with bad/worn out tyres.

Never drive over 80 Km/hr on concrete roads for longer period.

Is the Bombay-Pune Highway concrete?
Also does anyone know what kind of speeds the Zen was doing?

One more question about driving continously. What is the recommened
distance, after which it's good to give the vehicle a break - not just
wrt tyres but everything in general.
Suppose I am driving from Pune to Bombay, is it Ok to drive continously
or is it advisable to take a break in between. If neccessary to take a break, how long should the break be?

bblost · 11th September 2007, 10:55

anandpadhye >> Why?
I thought over inflated ones will be more likely to burst...

Under inflation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result in severe cracking, component separation or "blowout," with unexpected loss of vehicle control and accident. Under inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance resulting in heat and mechanical damage.

source >>
Dunlop Tires | Care & Maintenance | Proper Inflation

Feels nice when what I deduce is correct.
It just happens so far apart as to keep me happy.

ST7677 · 11th September 2007, 11:03

Most probably the tyres were old, having cracks in them and could not hold up the air expansion.

Why would low pressure lead to tyre blow up, on smooth concrete roads, I guess it would be high pressure created which would be the culprit. Would nitrogen have helped?

drifter · 11th September 2007, 11:45

Having low pressure means there is more flex in the sidewall. The continuous flexing due to high speeds leads to heat build-up. The heat causes air in the tube to expand which leads to a blow out.

Having tubeless tyres is always safer.

Drifter

emkay456 · 11th September 2007, 11:52

Reckon he must hv been doing at around 100+. If he was a regular user of the Expressway, he would have known that nearing Panvel 2nd exit (and also nearing Kalamboli) he should have started reducing speed.

Expressway does indeed heat up the tyres. Btw the dry period after monsoon rains makes most road surfaces like a sand paper giving a lot of friction.

nitrous · 11th September 2007, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by drifter

Having low pressure means there is more flex in the sidewall. The continuous flexing due to high speeds leads to heat build-up. The heat causes air in the tube to expand which leads to a blow out.

About a year back, I explained this theory to two bhpians at a meet, and I was considered a fool.

10th September 2007, 15:57	#1 (permalink)
emkay456 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 88	Mumbai - Pune Expressway Zen accident Was witness to a spectacular accident of a Zen on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on the stretch parallel to New Panvel. A Zen coming on the fast lane from Pune had a tire burst and literally took off over the median barricade. Luckily or unluckily the jump over took place exactly over a underpass where the expressway has two different bridges from both directions with a gap in the middle. The car went right through the gap grazing the walls on both sides and landed on the ground below. Miraculously all the 4 family members survived and were taken away in an ambulance. The maximum theywould have suffered would be any bone dislocations and lacerations. The vehicle was a total wreck. Probably the reason of the people surviving was the roof of the car did not cave in. The B Pillar buckled a bit. The bonnet was twisted beyond recognition. As the vehicle impacted the ground on its base, the chassis seems to be writeoff. The dashboard had caved in with all glasses gone. All in all an astounding accident bec. of bad tyres.

10th September 2007, 17:32	#3 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 649 View My Garage	because they dont know/ realise it. Most often someone is hired to do the cleaning of the car, the owner driver never touches any part of the car except the driving controls. Generally I make it a point to feel thru the entire car/ bike atleast once a week. shake everything and search for any loose ends and so on. (IMO) Under inflated tyres are more prone to bursting. check air preasure once a fortnight. __________________ Be your own Hero. RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004.

10th September 2007, 17:43	#4 (permalink)
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,519 View My Garage	That is indeed Bizarre incident, lucky all are safe... you never know the reason, sometimes under inflated tyres can also cause the burst... Abhi __________________ ------------------------------------ 2003 Bajaj Caliber115 \| 2006 Alto LXi ------------------------------------

10th September 2007, 18:07	#5 (permalink)
lohithrao BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Udupi/Bangalore Posts: 830 View My Garage	Scarry, hope they are fine soon. also next time they make sure that the tyres are in good shape and rightly inflated. __________________ " I'd rather live with the consequences of my actions rather than the regrets of my inactions."

11th September 2007, 02:08	#7 (permalink)
iraghava Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 7,332 View My Garage	Whatever the road conditions may be, what we forget first of all is that the tyres on our cars are made of Rubber & so have a fixed life after which they are useless and dangerous. Unfortunately most people prefer to ignore rather than pay attention to the small 4 patches of rubber keeping them on the road and ultimately pay the price for it. __________________ There is a very fine line between "Hobby" and "Mental Illness".

10th September 2007, 17:11	#2 (permalink)
akshay1234 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,971 View My Garage	i dont know why people speed when they have bad tyres.

10th September 2007, 18:50	#6 (permalink)
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,087 View My Garage	Concrete roads heat up the tyre more and specificaly on continuous high speeds, its a sure shot recipe for disaster if you couple it with bad/worn out tyres. Never drive over 80 Km/hr on concrete roads for longer period.

11th September 2007, 10:55	#10 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 649 View My Garage	anandpadhye >> Why? I thought over inflated ones will be more likely to burst... Under inflation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result in severe cracking, component separation or "blowout," with unexpected loss of vehicle control and accident. Under inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance resulting in heat and mechanical damage. source >> Dunlop Tires \| Care & Maintenance \| Proper Inflation Feels nice when what I deduce is correct. It just happens so far apart as to keep me happy. __________________ Be your own Hero. RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004.

11th September 2007, 11:03	#11 (permalink)
ST7677 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 660	Most probably the tyres were old, having cracks in them and could not hold up the air expansion. Why would low pressure lead to tyre blow up, on smooth concrete roads, I guess it would be high pressure created which would be the culprit. Would nitrogen have helped?

11th September 2007, 11:45	#12 (permalink)
drifter Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,297 View My Garage	Having low pressure means there is more flex in the sidewall. The continuous flexing due to high speeds leads to heat build-up. The heat causes air in the tube to expand which leads to a blow out. Having tubeless tyres is always safer. Drifter __________________ Slow Everything Down And Feel Like God - Tata Safari

11th September 2007, 11:52	#13 (permalink)
emkay456 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 88	Reckon he must hv been doing at around 100+. If he was a regular user of the Expressway, he would have known that nearing Panvel 2nd exit (and also nearing Kalamboli) he should have started reducing speed. Expressway does indeed heat up the tyres. Btw the dry period after monsoon rains makes most road surfaces like a sand paper giving a lot of friction.

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