Tire failure in turn 2 at Fontana.............

[kary]

Here is a short video of a right rear tire failure I had this past weekend. Kept it off the wall but was hit by another car behind me. I was just entering turn 2 at the apex (my apex, not completely down at the bottom) when the tire failed at about 135 MPH.

Really can get your attention when trying to avoid the wall


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-P_8bNCcQc

[993Panzer]

Kary,

How much damage is there to your car? You'd better get that driving suit dry cleaned.

[4est]

Glad you're both okay. Could have been a ton worse.

[kary]

Glad you're both okay. Could have been a ton worse.

Yes, I got practice from your car at WSIR that day

[kary]

Kary,

How much damage is there to your car? You'd better get that driving suit dry cleaned.

Washed suit

Damage, right rear wheel both inside and outer rim halves damages as they flat spotted the wheel rims (not tires, but wheel), oil hose in fender well was pinched and hose clamp rotated due to tire shredding and pinched hole in hose (luckily did not leak until after I was off track), inner fender well plastic damaged, side skirt hang down from tire shred, rear bumper cover split in half from right side of license plate, under bumper cover metal heat shields pushed in and tweaked and split, right rear turn signal popped out but still intact, entire rear bumper across back hang down on exhaust pipes (no mufflers on car luckly, just pipes).

So I obtained a 996 water hose(yes I said a 996 water hose) and replaced the oil segment that was leaking, used a mallet to pound back the metal heat shield so I could duct tape the rear fender back into what appeared to be a single bumper again (sort of), duct taped the right rear signals back in though right side though lights did not work, redrilled the side skirt back into fender lip and re installed the inner fender well covers, replaced wheel and new set of tires....and off I went for two more days

Made it through two cup races and two qualifying and one practices session. On the Sunday race my duct tape gave way and right rear turn signal was hanging out held in my the three wiring harness to the turn signals. Fender started to slip apart, last lap on Sunday....made it the distance.....hehehehehe Outside temperatures above 100 degrees did not help my body repairs.

[martinreinhardt]

Man, that was close to the wall. I am glad you are ok.

[Mike]

I was just entering turn 2 at the apex (my apex, not completely down at the bottom) when the tire failed at about 135 MPH.

Great you and your car are ok.
Any idea why the tire failed?
Were you running slicks?

[kary]

I was just entering turn 2 at the apex (my apex, not completely down at the bottom) when the tire failed at about 135 MPH.

Great you and your car are ok.
Any idea why the tire failed?
Were you running slicks?

No, tire guy said it failed on the shoulder. I was running slicks. This is normally due to tire pressures more than anything. Yoko's do not have as strong of a side wall as do Pirelli or Dunlap or Michelin for example so if the pressure is too low for any extended period of time it will likely fail. I try and monitor this always however the tire guy said that I was probably running the tires to high to start and I should lower them. If that is the case, and it seemed to be then I would think it is not the pressures because I was finishing session 3 to 4 lbs over the target.

In the end I think the reality is these tires are not meant for many heat cycles, they are meant to be run on one or two sessions and then tossed, like qualifying and a race, done. Second, camber plays a roll as well though running under 3.0 degrees is within the norm for most of us and I personally have run at Fontana and Vegas and know the wear patterns for those tracks with that camber. Third, my car weighs in at 3025 lbs with me in the car, that is a lot of weight and not sure race tires were really designed for anything that heavy, maybe I should use NASCAR goodyear's as their cars ar 3600 lbs

All in all a difficult experience but one that builds confidence to handle a situation, like the turn 2 wall!!!!

[Dan Chambers]

Wow! My worst nightmare. You appeared very calm and cool through the spins. Very sorry for the car damage, however, very glad you nor anyone else was hurt. That was great driving and safety work on your part, kary. I hope the car is up and fixed quickly.

[Otto]

Everybody's worst nightmare! Glad you are ok Kary and that the damage was limited so that you were able to continue driving the car.

[kary]

Thank you guys! It is just one of those things you have to get through....have to admit it took me a day of driving to get back into the saddle everytime I came through turn 2....but by Sunday I was back in the saddle, unfortunately the car wasn't...it needs some tender loving care now!

[Dan Chambers]

Kary:

I have to complement you again on your safe driving ... and good luck. This guy at Daytona was not so lucky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7-SDVkm ... re=related

Sorry your car was hit, but it could have been so much worse.

[kary]

Kary:

I have to complement you again on your safe driving ... and good luck. This guy at Daytona was not so lucky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7-SDVkm ... re=related

Sorry your car was hit, but it could have been so much worse.

If you can call that safe driving LOL Thanks though!

[4est]

For the GT3 RS vid, hoew did you like the way his windshield just folded and blew off...

Kary, great vids of the Vegas races...

[kary]

For the GT3 RS vid, hoew did you like the way his windshield just folded and blew off...

Kary, great vids of the Vegas races...

Thanks, those were really fun races, so close calls at times but very fun all in all.