h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Flat tyre
M11 just before the Road works at J8 late on a cold windy night while doing 80MPH

You OK, dear?

yeah

Good

there's nothing like changing a tyre at night on a motorway wiv no street lighting & having high speed truck wooshing past you to make you apreciate life

I hope it was not on the side of the car next to the roadway...

BTW, is that how you spell tire over there? Is this another one for the UK/US English thread?

Yes, Roadside
Yes, Thats how we spell Tyre.

it blew at 80? you're good- keeping it under control and all. Glad you're ok

lucky it was a rear one - I've only once had a high speed blow out on the front and that's not an experiance I want to repeat

Are the speed limits really that high there? Or are you "just keeping up with traffic"

The speed limit on Motorways is normally 70MPH but it's widely ignored. I wouldn't expect the police to be interested in a speeding car on the motorway if it was doing 80MPH or less & I wouldn't expect the police to issue a ticket for a car doing less than 90MPH (both those statements assume good road & traffic conditions).

It is generally acknowledged by motoring organisations & to a certain extent the Police that UK motorway speed limits are too low (hence the relaxed enforcement of speed limits on Motorways) and it is expected that in the future they will be raised as will the enforcement level. Note that where the speed limit has been reduced (road works, variable speed limits in operation etc) enforcement is strict.

I'll bet. I've yet to get a blowout but when my Dad was picking up his car that he bought from his brother- mine car now- the left front blew at 75. Knocked off a bit of the crome siding and took out the plastic part of the wheel well. The only plastic thing on the entire car, go figure.

front blowouts are a lot harder to control - always pay attention & keep both hands on the wheel when driving at speed