Well that was an experience.
Driving around the M60 and heard a loud noise, obviously ran over something.
Next minute pressure sensor warning comes on 40... 30... 15... 2.
Pull over the three lanes onto the hard shoulder as fast as I could all while slowing down. Luckily it was a wide section so pulled into the grass as much as I could as well.
Drivers side rear totally flat. Thank god my car has a space saver and not just useless sealant.
Even those couple of hundred metres looks like it's wrecked the side walls.
Remembered the tips of face the traffic as much as possible and keep an eye out but still a bit nerve wracking then all flying past at 70+.
Not something I want to do again in a hurry.
I had a blow out, rear left, with my family in the car early December. Something didn't seem right, initially thought road...but then realised it wasn't...then bang.
Fortunately, I was in the middle lane, driving a steady cruise speed and managed to get it over to the hard shoulder (thank goodness there was one). Quick as a shot, up and out getting the kids out of the car and far left embankment. Not sure it would have been as smooth if it was just me and the kids.
That said, changing the tyre with traffic going past at that speed is not something I want to experience again. If it was me on my own with the kids, there is no way I would have been attempting the replacement. My wife kept an eye out for traffic coming down - so I took the view of getting it done.
Getting the tyre off in the first place, I didn't have it jacked high enough so although I had loosened before raising - it wasn't high enough due to the now obliterated tyre dragging. Finally figured it out after 20 minutes of pulling, pushing, kicking. RAC turned up just as I was tightening the bolts of the spare on.
Unfortunately, the after effects have stayed (ignoring the damage to the car - rear bumper replacement, tyre arch seal - c£600 job, plus new tyre costs, 2 new rears, when I got to my destination). Every time we are on what I would describe as horrible road (think of that M25 stretch from Heathrow to Gatwick - horrible stuff), my mind automatically goes to - what's that noise? is that the tyre? Unfortunately my oldest has clearly got a bit of worry about the same scenario happening also - very panicked recently when we did a trip down to Dover for the boat via that M25 stretch.
As for the cause, I'm still trying to play it back in my mind. Likely a puncture which was unnoticed and got worse on the motorway due to load and speed. Tyre was Cinturato p7, purchased with the car, looking at the receipts likely 2 years old - c20K miles in total. Now replaced with my go to - GY Eagle F1 asymmetrics. I thought it could be a delam fault, but looking at the pictures even now, that isn't clear to me. Either way...thankful that I wasn't going crazy speed, family is safe...money is irrelevant given that.
On my own, definitely agree sod the tyre wait for rescue.