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Posted by: jaredmcginness Apr 6 2021, 10:32 AM

Hey guys,

Thought I would share this "fun" moment.

Old lady and I were heading up to Summit Point, WV last Saturday to spectate the PCA track day. I enjoy watching if I have a free day. Always cool cars/people.
We decided to take our 944, just did fresh calipers, and was a beautiful day for a cruise.

(the car:)




Stopped for coffee, and got on 695. Once I get up to speed (65-70mph) (one exit down the road) I feel a rear end shimmy, and a loud pop.
Front end immediately swings out behind, we spin 540* across 3 lanes, and end up nose out in the slow lane, at a dead stop.

Luckily/miraculously we did not hit anyone or anything. One guy just slowed down and layed on the horn.

I backed it up on an exit, we used the inflatable spare (to my surprise, it actually worked) and got the car home. My girlfriend insisted she changed the wheel out. Maybe it was the adrenaline

Neither of us spilled a drop of coffee, haha!

Pics:










Moral of the story? I'm not sure, I would say, check your tires, but I did when I replaced the calipers the day before.... not sure what caused this.

Be safe!




Side note:

We still wanted to go to WV, so we took the TDI. Here are some pics, from the track, for those interested (so it's somewhat 914 related):

Posted by: mepstein Apr 6 2021, 10:37 AM

Glad you are ok. I have some new but a couple year old 16” tires you should take back with you next time you come up.

Posted by: Steve Apr 6 2021, 11:45 AM

Glad your ok!! How old were those tires?

Posted by: bretth Apr 6 2021, 11:47 AM

Yikes glad you are OK. Nice looking 944.

Posted by: Root_Werks Apr 6 2021, 11:50 AM

Yikes and yes, glad you two are okay. Spinning out on a freeway usually ends in disaster.

Posted by: Mueller Apr 6 2021, 12:12 PM

Scary, glad no injuries.

We had the a blow out on our old '91 964, we hit a big rig trailer on the freeway during the spin. Luckily we too walked away from it.

Posted by: jaredmcginness Apr 6 2021, 12:19 PM

Thank you, these are 17". We replaced the rear tires on Monday. This is a good excuse to get a more period set of wheels.




Thank you! The P.O put these tires on the wheels 3.5 years ago. Not old enough to think a blow out would occur.




Wow, that is very frightening. Moments like that stick with you.

Posted by: Andyrew Apr 6 2021, 12:20 PM

Curious the date code and model of that tire.. It doesnt look old enough for a blowout like that...

Glad to hear everything is OK!

Posted by: jaredmcginness Apr 6 2021, 12:22 PM

Thank you, it's an '88 Celebration Edition, grey plaid. We practically stole it. It's been good to us, but every once in a while they bite back.




If I recall the model was RIKEN 215/40 Date was 2/4/17

We replaced and upsized to 225/45/17.

Posted by: BillC Apr 6 2021, 03:08 PM

That kind of damage is typical of a tire that was run partially-deflated for a long time. The extra sidewall flexing from the low pressure ends up breaking the cords in the sidewall, causing it to eventually blow out. The damage was probably caused long before you got the car, and can't be seen from the outside of the tire -- you have to pop the bead and look inside the tire to see if the sidewalls are okay.



She's a keeper!

Posted by: targa72e Apr 6 2021, 08:24 PM

What BillC said.
more common on rear. Run over something in road and front tire lifts it up to get stuck in the rear. Slow leak not noticed immediately, worse with short sidewalls. Side wall heats up until in blows. Worked in tire industry many years ago and saw it daily. Once had a tire that was damaged but did not blow but sidewall was shot. When tire was removed there was a 2' piece of metal rod inside. It was wrapped around the wheel and only a small slit in tread of tire were it entered

john.

Posted by: wonkipop Apr 7 2021, 03:31 AM

i'd need replacement underpants if that happened to me.
well done staying in one piece.

interesting about under-inflation/flick up scenario.

never driven a 944, but have driven a 924 many moons ago.
it was so balanced. maligned like 914s.
nothing wrong with them in the chassis department.

i've got a secret soft spot for them.
its that big back glass hatch.
if you close your eyes and squint, you can see the 914 targa bar in the window section behind the drivers door. then imagine the 914 boot with a bubble of glass on it.
there is continuity. at least i think so.

Posted by: bkrantz Apr 7 2021, 08:08 PM

I really enjoyed and admired my 944. Not much power in the base model, but incredible chassis dynamics, especially on the open road. And the most practical Porsche I have ever owned. I sometimes had 2 small kids in the back seats (including one in a car seat) and tons of luggage or other stuff under the back hatch.