I am NEVER driving 20s in SoCal anymore...

[michaelthepsycho]

So... I just got car back from the shop a week ago and loving it... New intake, grounding kit, endlinks, wheels, Eibach.... Da da da... And the body shop guy told me to drive semi-aggressively for a week to let the springs settle in... Everything was going well until today, on the way back from Irvine... My driver side front tire explodes from the street reflectors (you know, the flashy things between lanes) on the highway while changing lanes. I was extremely lucky, being on the right lane and near an exit... Managed to get it to a gas station after getting off the freeway.I KNOW for a fact that the reflectors weren't the sole cause, although this is only the second time I've taken my new 20" rim / tires (Falken 452) on the highway. It must've been plagued by the various cracks and pothole before the reflector finally set it off.Moral of the story: once I get insurance to take care of all this... I'm switching to 17F/18R or 17 all around with XXR's thick lips on the rear... If anyone driving 20s has had a similar experience... Please rant on how bad the roads in SoCal are!!! (Irvine local was great though, nice and smooth)
Modified by michaelthepsycho at 9:01 PM 2/6/2009

[nogears909]

i wouldnt go 17s front 18s rear, id go 18's all around with 225/45/18

[LongBeachCoupe]

Ive got over 15k miles on my 20s here in NY...

Ive been to cali (irvine 3 times) and from what I saw, the roads are a PLEASURE compared to NY... Cold/Hot temperatures cause expanding/shrinking of road, and cause huge potholes...

I havent had any issues with my wheels or tires at all.

You drove a 20" wheel, after you had a flat?

Im pretty sure you can just scrap that wheel now.

Sorry you had issues though!

[bighercman]

I got 36,000 miles on my 20s and i just changed my tires today(they sold me my rims with cheap tires. i think the brand was sunny or something like that). If i were you i would just make insurance take care of it or see if the tire was defected or too old. You should take a look a few pages back in the coupe forum to find the post that someone put up about tires that had a video in it. Check the date it was made and see if the place that sold u your rims sold you old tires.

Oh and some of the Roads in So Cal are perfectly fine. I have no problems. I do atleast 130 miles a day just going to work and back. Tack on another 20-30 miles if i have to go visit one of our other locations in so cal to take care of some problems.

[losenone]

I agree with LBC.

Dude if you think Cali roads are bad, your in for an unpleasant surprise if you drive pretty much anywhere else in the country. Especially around here (NY) where temperatures fluctuate very much during the year.

[Heels1010]

i also live on long island and the potholes can become very annoying midway through winter. Thats why I take off my rims and put the stock rims on. Also this is why I bought forged rims which are stronger than the typical alloy rim. I have 19" rims. Sorry to hear about your problem but u have to be happy that it didn't cause you to wreck into a median or anything.

[AltiCoupeDriver]

Wow. You wanna see bad roads? Come up north. I've been to California many times, and of course to Irvine. The roads there are amazing compared to what we have up here due to snow and what not.

Hope everything works out for you though!

[Kango]

man sorry to hear man. Yeah check the manufacturers code on your tires. there should be 4 digit number on your tire that tells when it was made.

I believe the first 2 numbers are the months it made and last 2 is the year.

2607 = 26th week of 2007 i think.

[srwong]

Sorry to hear bout that. But I doubt it was driving on 20's on SoCal roads that did that to your car. I was born and raised here in SoCal, and the roads are not as bad as you are making them out to be. As the guys were saying, it could have been your tire that was the cause of this.

And there could have been a number of things on the road to have also caused this. ,,That's how I got into my car accident a year and a half ago. There was something on the road which cause me to swerve onto the exit, and flip off the exit ramp, roll and hit 3 trees.

[michaelthepsycho]

Irvine local streets were PERFECT (which I guess many of you misread) but 57 / 5 freeway omg, those are places where even if you saw the potholes, you have no safe way of really avoiding them... You're surrounded by traffic!

To nogears909: Yeah, I'm probably going 18 all around.

To LongBeachCoupe: Like I said, Irvine streets were really great, I admit that but I'm from Kansas City, Kansas originally and they gots some really nice roads there (maybe not anymore but at least when I was growing up). I did not have a flat, my tires literally exploded and came off so I was forced to ride on the rims because a highway worker told me to get the F off the section I was parked at (he said that particular area had a high kill-rate so thanks to him). And yes, that rim is pretty much totaled now... The colored lip portion was actually squeezed off as I was limping it into my parking space (thanks to the AAA dude for towing ).

To bighercman: Yes, I saw that news even before it was posted (I didn't have cable before so all I had were the news channels) but you NEVER think it'd happen to you eh? (at least if that really WAS the cause).

To losenone: That's why I don't live in New "Yawk" Of course there's going to be places with worse road conditions but we're not here to compare who's state sucks more lol... AmIright!?

To Heels1010: Yeah, that's why I even considered going back to 17s... And no, I don't really want to buy forged rims for a 2.5 S haha... Maybe for the better ones in the family but this car is a "first."

To AltiCoupeDriver: I actually might go North once I get my grades up enough for a transfer... Been slacking off but uhh... The overabundance of "diversity" here in SoCal might be enough motivation for me to relocate back to Kansas or maybe Iowa.

To Kango: Yes, I'll go ahead and check the manufacturer date while the insurance agent comes over and takes a look at the damage

To srwong: I'm not "making them out to be." I'm simply observing and saying what I feel. For one of the God d*mn biggest, most bad*ss countries in the world, we sure have road conditions that don't live up to that status... You know how they inspect roads in Japan? Simple test: You take a piece of A4 paper, lay it on the asphalt concrete, and then proceed to run a truck over the paper. If the paper has crinkles or bends or any other obvious blemish... BOOM! That road is not up to standards and has to be reworked. That's why you're driving a Nissan and not some trashy Mustang or SRT. You offer a product that people like at a better price and people should allow bad businesses to perish... I shouldn't have to accept, compromise, or settle for sh*tty roads but hey, what do I know? People like me have to change my wheels to accomodate for the road... And honestly, I'm fine with that. But just because something is the way it is doesn't mean it's the way it should be.

I have to add, my wheels have not been aligned or balanced yet :P Stupid tires blew up on me before the break-in period

Thanks everyone for all the response.

[Dwong84]

Sorry to hear about your car... hope insurance pays for the repairs. If it makes you feel better here in Edmonton, Canada they say we have 2 seasons, winter and pot hole repair.

If you decide to sell your rims in the future let me know. I might be interested depended what kinda style they are.

[Sentientbydesign]

Most of OC has great roads. Go East a little and things change. The roads basically disinegrate once water touches them.

The last time I had a major tire catastrophe was in Irvine lol. I was driving the I30 and was trying to find an exit off the Jamboree bridge. Must have driven back and forth 10 times trying to find it. When I finally did, I hit a shard of metal and it tore my tire open.

[michaelthepsycho]

To Dwong84: I do want to sell my rims... Do you want the wheels along with them? I'll e-mail you.

To SentientByDesign: I've been having terrible luck every since I moved to SoCal. I guess you can call it a bad first "impression." First, I run a red in L.A. because the stop lights were too damn high (over the roof) and clipped a Ford in the tail ($2,300 right there). Then two of my friends get their cars totaled... Then my roommate got arrested in a he-said, she-said domestic case in which I was a partial witness... Then this tire blowing up on the freeway... And school stuff isn't all that great either. God d*mn... Terrible year.

[Northernstar]

come on manno roads are as bad as the ones up here in edmonton = =

[ESP]

come on manno roads are as bad as the ones up here in edmonton = =

Dude, so true!!! Your signage is horrible up there too...I hate driving in Edmontonchuck! That being said, here in Calgary we've only got, like, three bridges crossing the river. City planning isn't exactly our strongest suit! haha

[rjdmmfl1]

Been riding 20's in SOCAL for over a year... no problems!

In addition to potholes, cheap rims that bend easily and cheap tires could contribute to an exploding tire! Not saying that's what you have, but that seems like the most common reason a tire explodes... especially from road reflectors..

[Sentientbydesign]

Seems like there is a plethora of road work being done right now too. I had to take an onramp like a ricer the other day because of a 3-4" "step" in the pavement level.

[maxentropy]

Most of OC has great roads. Go East a little and things change. The roads basically disinegrate once water touches them.

Hahahahaha you guys are funny-- come on up to Pennsylvania and I'll show you some scary looking roads ridden with potholes, cracks, gaps, snow, ice, freezing rain, and amish.

Seriously though, you can tell that you are in PA if you have your eyes closed while riding in a car. The roads are so incredibly bumpy (especially highways).

I'm very surprised by the performance of my AC in the snow and crappy roads up here so far. 19inchers working well with my all season tires.

[Sentientbydesign]

I think you all underestimate how bad we have it out here.

My neighborhood had cracks everywhere, so what do they do? They come out and make the cracks bigger, then shove some tar and ashphalt in and leave small chunks of asphalt everywhere.

The offramp I use to get home looks like it's been melted or like it's fabric and has buckled. There's a good 5-6" difference in height.

On the 91FWY that goes between where I live and OC, I have to carefully choose which lane I drive in. The Carpool and "fast" lane are horribly bumpy. I have to drive in the center lane to avoid most of that.

[michaelthepsycho]

Yes! Finally someone on my side =D Put an end to my city sucks more than your city competition!!! Wahaha

[rjdmmfl1]

Yes! Finally someone on my side =D Put an end to my city sucks more than your city competition!!! Wahaha

gimme this thread fool, it's a full time jack move!!!!!!!

psycho, on an unrelated note.. we should meet up at a local range sometime.... i see your setup in your avatar... nice

[michaelthepsycho]

gimme this thread fool, it's a full time jack move!!!!!!!

psycho, on an unrelated note.. we should meet up at a local range sometime.... i see your setup in your avatar... nice

Thanks man. I'll make sure to give you an e-mail if I ever head down. Give me a heads up if you're ever in the Fullerton area:

Speaking of Fullerton... Rob.Vegan's also in the area.

[Neipas09]

20s = low self esteem

[michaelthepsycho]

20s = low self esteem

You're absolutely right. Thank you for the enlightenment!

[rjdmmfl1]

20s = low self esteem

that is by far the least intelligent first post I have ever seen on NICO... you're off to a great start dude... keep up the good work....

Thanks man. I'll make sure to give you an e-mail if I ever head down. Give me a heads up if you're ever in the Fullerton area: 714-287-1301.

Speaking of Fullerton... Rob.Vegan's also in the area.

naww, you have all the goodies, I'll come up to Fullerton... I believe Daniel is from there also as he goes to Cal STate Fullerton...

N-E-way, this is my last thread jack, but I just bought a Glock 29-subcompact 10mm.... I hear these things have some nice kick to em... can't wait to pick it up next week (you know how this damn 10 day waiting period in Cali keeps you waiting with anticipation... DA*n California Gun laws )

[Beak]

thats a really nice peice man.... real nice

[psi101101]

glocks FTW!, bet you mine hit harder

[phobs]

N-E-way, this is my last thread jack, but I just bought a Glock 29-subcompact 10mm.... I hear these things have some nice kick to em...

Good choice, I shot one of those at the range before and they do have a nice kick. Planning to get a subcompact when I turn legal of age . I miss my middle school days when I used to airsoft with my g26.

[rjdmmfl1]

glocks FTW!, bet you mine hit harder

than the 10MM? I think not... although its up for debate, the 10MM round is a pretty darn hot round! Let's let Alientracker weigh in on this over in the General forum!