[carboy]

This isn't about modifications, but couldn't find any appropriate forum, hence posting it here. Please move it, if there is a better forum.

Today, I was driving from Bombay to Pune on my Swift Vxi-ABS (with tubeless tyres, no alloys). While entering the Vashi toll booth by right hand front wheel hit something at slow speed, and there was an bursting sound.
I paid the toll & then immediatelly went left & parked, saw that
the front tyres were flat & the rims were bent. I have never changed
a tyre before hence asked about tyres shops nearby. Found a tyre
guy & he came he fitted my spare tyre, but the air was low, so he also
filled air. After filling air, he put some water on the tyre walls & noticed
that there were 2-3 slow air leaks from the side walls. He said that if there
was 1, he could mend it, but 2-3 is difficult. So what he did it is removed
the tyre again, cut out the valve stem with a blade & fitted a tube inside the tubeless tyres & I drove it to Pune.

Now my questions
1) I have never used the spare tyre - it's brand new, lying in the
boot, since the time I bought the car -10 months back. Do these
tyres have a warranty? Will cutting off the valve stem & putting a tube
inside void the warranty - I had no options - it was early in the morning
before any authorised shops were open. Who do I contact - JK or Maruti Service station for the warranty if there is one?

2) About the original tyre rim, which got dented, can just the rim be changed? How much does it cost? Where can I get it done? I assume that the tyre wouldn't have got damaged.

[praveen_v]

Originally Posted by carboy

While entering the Vashi toll booth by right hand front wheel hit something at slow speed, and there was an bursting sound.
I paid the toll & then immediatelly went left & parked, saw that
the front tyres were flat & the rims were bent.

Now that's not supposed to happen. Only the tube bursts in a normal tyre. How can a tyre burst?? and that too at low speed? Tubeless tyres tends to release the air slowly in case of a puncture, not just burst.

After filling air, he put some water on the tyre walls & noticed
that there were 2-3 slow air leaks from the side walls. He said that if there
was 1, he could mend it, but 2-3 is difficult...

Now my questions
1) I have never used the spare tyre - it's brand new, lying in the
boot, since the time I bought the car -10 months back. Do these
tyres have a warranty?
2) About the original tyre rim, which got dented, can just the rim be changed? How much does it cost? Where can I get it done? I assume that the tyre wouldn't have got damaged.

1. Tyres should be having a warranty against manufacturing defects. check with your dealer or tyre manufacturer.
10 months the tyre was just idle in the boot?? Didnt you do any tyre rotation??

2.It should be possible to change the rims alone, ask the people at the service centre to examine both the tyre and the rim and then decide.

[iraghava]

Carboy can you post some pictures of the tyres in question? And of the wheels too. Will help us in giving you the best advice.

Originally Posted by praveen_v

Now that's not supposed to happen. Only the tube bursts in a normal tyre. How can a tyre burst?? and that too at low speed? Tubeless tyres tends to release the air slowly in case of a puncture, not just burst.

Sidewall cut/failure is a common cause of this.

[gotzuk]

Originally Posted by praveen_v

Now that's not supposed to happen. Only the tube bursts in a normal tyre. How can a tyre burst?? and that too at low speed? Tubeless tyres tends to release the air slowly in case of a puncture, not just burst.

praveen,
it was mentioned that the rims were also bent..
a tubeless tyre will not retain air if the rim gets
bent and the general effect of the air escaping
because of the bent rim and subsequent loss of
tyre sealing, is almost like a tube bursting..
cheers

[praveen_v]

Originally Posted by iraghava

Sidewall cut/failure is a common cause of this.

I think the sidewall faliure was the problem in his spare wheel. Unless he cut the tyre real hard, which I doubt he would have done at low speeds, it should have let go of the air slowly.

Can such a drastic cut/failure happen at low speeds??

Originally Posted by gotzuk

praveen,
it was mentioned that the rims were also bent..
a tubeless tyre will not retain air if the rim gets
bent and the general effect of the air escaping
because of the bent rim and subsequent loss of
tyre sealing, is almost like a tube bursting..

I assumed that the rims were bent after the tyre let go of the air. But as you said, the rims might have bent to let the air out.

yes, only a pic of the rim can be used to identify what went wrong.

[tsk1979]

I think you hit a iron rod jutting out. Even at low speed such a rod can destroy the rim and the tire.
They are found commonly at toll booths(leftovers from constructions)

[carboy]

Originally Posted by praveen_v

yes, only a pic of the rim can be used to identify what went wrong.

I am not trying to diagnose anything. I know what's wrong
1) The tubeless tyre that the rim got bent - the rim has to be changed.
2) The spare tubeless tyre has leaks.

My questions were about warranty of the spare tyre.
And also if the rim can be replaced & how much it costs.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I think you hit a iron rod jutting out. Even at low speed such a rod can destroy the rim and the tire.
They are found commonly at toll booths(leftovers from constructions)

The tyre isn't damaged at all - as far as I can see - just the rim

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Carboy, rims can be straightened out. Ask the tyre repairwala or any local workshop, they will know where it is done.

What make are the tyres? Surprising that two tyres have problems. Did you examine the surroundings fo the toll booth to identify what hit your tyres?

[gotzuk]

Originally Posted by carboy

My questions were about warranty of the spare tyre.
And also if the rim can be replaced & how much it costs.

carboy,
your insurance policy also covers damage to rims and tires which
get damaged in an accident. steel rims are cheaper than alloy
rims. never get damaged rims straightened or repaired, it can be
a safety hazard. always replace them.

the warranty on the spare tire, however, is a issue which can
be best addressed by any authorized outlet for your brand of car.

cheers

[carboy]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

What make are the tyres? Surprising that two tyres have problems.

Was my first post so understandable, that no one seems to understand what I wrote? One Tyre had a problem (the spare one). The other was bent by hitting something (the front right). I don't see what's surprising.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by carboy

Was my first post so understandable, that no one seems to understand what I wrote? One Tyre had a problem (the spare one). The other was bent by hitting something (the front right). I don't see what's surprising.

Meant to write - "was my first post so ununderstandable".

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Carboy, what is surprising is the one in a zillion chance that two tyres - tubeless ones at that - getting damaged at the same time has happened to you.

Tubeless tyres do not get deflated so fast. So, some people want you to confirm that you hit something before the rims were bent (yes, you are clear about expressing what you understood, but we are testing if your understanding of the sequence itself is correct). That is, are you sure that the sequence was not that the tyres went flat first and then caused the bent rims? Is there an impact mark on the rims?

AFAICT, tyres, batteries, etc have warranty cover from respective manufacturer - and therefore, an insurance claim may be unnecessary.

You may be better off talking to your dealer and get advice from him. Of course, if his suggestions are suspicious to you, please post them here.

[trrk]

Hi Carboy,

> Was my first post so understandable, that no one seems to understand
> what I wrote? One Tyre had a problem (the spare one). The other was bent > by hitting something (the front right). I don't see what's surprising.

That is left for you to decide.

Kindly see the quoted portion of your fist message:

> I paid the toll & then immediatelly went left & parked, saw that
> the front tyres were flat & the rims were bent. I have never changed
> a tyre before hence asked about tyres shops nearby.

You have mentioned 'front tyres were flat & the rims were bent'. Naturally with the plurals, people assumed that both your front tyres were gone.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by trrk

You have mentioned 'front tyres were flat & the rims were bent'. Naturally with the plurals, people assumed that both your front tyres were gone.

Tx for pointing this out - now I grok why people were confused. It was just the front right tyre which was flat.