Flat tires from potholes

[jkoya]

Granted I've never had 21" tires, I've had 20" wheels, but this has never happen to any of my past porsche or audi cars. It's probably just bad luck and timing since they were a month apart, just made me think if the weight of the taycan and the low profiles mean likely flats if you hit bad potholes.

The YouTube channel Engineering Explained talks about this with his pothole experience with a Tesla Model 3 Performance. Weight of the car, low profile tires and heavy wheels were his explanations for his flats and rim damage, after hitting a pothole on a road trip.

Our Tesla Model 3 came with 20" cast alloy wheels and I swapped them for 18" forged alloys and tires with more sidewall. For the Taycan CT4, I ordered the 20" wheels, hoping it would be a good compromise between the 19" and 20" wheels. I live near I-5 in Sacramento and they have been working on it for months and sometimes you can't see the potholes until it's too late...

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[Pozuelo]

Also a factor may be that you were in Sport Plus which lowers suspension and stiffens it. This makes for less bump compliance with reduced wheel travel and stiffer suspension. The blow transmitted to the tire is much more violent. Had you been driving at normal height with suspension in Sport (normal is too soft in my opinion) you maybe would not have sustained a blowout. Also, from my racing days, a softer suspension and normal height always helps in very wet conditions and makes the car more controllable or predictable. As for range mode, it also lowers the car although the suspension is on the normal stiffness without the possibility to change it.

 

[thinkbusiness]

This can't be your first car. Flats happen. Period. Especially with low profile tires.

BMW has run flat tyres I don’t know why Porsche doesn’t have those.

 

[YWGT3]

BMW has run flat tyres I don’t know why Porsche doesn’t have those.

Had run-flat tires on my BMW 650 GC. One of the front tires, under 4,000 miles, was flattened by a pothole. The tow driver mentioned it was good that I decided to immediately pull over as the wheel's rim was less than one-eighth of an inch from kissing the asphalt. While the concept of run-flats may have merit, it certainly would not live up to its claim if I had driven the vehicle any further.

 

[RBGtaycan]

These states have the worst potholes, according to Google

https://autos.yahoo.com/states-worst-potholes-according-google-190400895.html

 

[W1NGE]

It's been raining in CA and while on the freeway, I hit a pot hole and my front passenger tire got a flat and had to be replaced. A month later the same situation happen to my front driver side wheel and tire had to be replaced. Has this happen to anyone else? Is it the fact that my wheels are too big and the car is super heavy so when you hit a pothole it blows your tire up? I'm hoping this isn't going to be a common issue.

My car info:

• My car has the 21" Taycan Exclusive Design Wheels (The ones that look like big fan blades) Pic attached of my wheel pristine (not flat)
• All season 21" tires

Incidents:
1) Flat tire #1 - Driving on a freeway in Sport Plus mode going 55mph, hit a pothole and instant side wall blowout on front driver passenger wheel.
2) Flat tire #2 - Driving on a freeway in range mode going 80mph, hit a pothole and instant side wall blowout of the front passenger wheel.

Anyone else have this happen? or ideas or advise?

Suspect (given the drive mode Sport Plus) that the lowered suspension and stiffened shock absorbers will not have provided sufficient headroom to absorb large bumps at speed. Situation will be amplified on 21" wheels and little rubber to play with.

These are my guesses only. Also I wouldn't drive in Sport Plus on a motor / freeway and save it for country roads.

 

[Lars]

BMW has run flat tyres I don’t know why Porsche doesn’t have those.

Having had a Mini (BMW) with run flats and a friend with a BMW with run flats I would avoid them at all costs. In my experience I found them unforgiving in the ride and they distorted the tread pattern causing road hum and premature replacement. Every tyre dealer said it was common for this too happen on RF tyres.
The ride with standard wall tyres was much better on both cars IMHO

 

[EVie]

Also a factor may be that you were in Sport Plus which lowers suspension and stiffens it. This makes for less bump compliance with reduced wheel travel and stiffer suspension. The blow transmitted to the tire is much more violent. Had you been driving at normal height with suspension in Sport (normal is too soft in my opinion) you maybe would not have sustained a blowout. Also, from my racing days, a softer suspension and normal height always helps in very wet conditions and makes the car more controllable or predictable. As for range mode, it also lowers the car although the suspension is on the normal stiffness without the possibility to change it.

I 100% percent agree. I didn't factor in the Sport Plus mode which is totally a factor in what happen. Good learning for sure.

 

[EVie]

Suspect (given the drive mode Sport Plus) that the lowered suspension and stiffened shock absorbers will not have provided sufficient headroom to absorb large bumps at speed. Situation will be amplified on 21" wheels and little rubber to play with.

These are my guesses only. Also I wouldn't drive in Sport Plus on a motor / freeway and save it for country roads.

100% agree with you.

 

[Hessam001]

100% agree with you.

What tires do you recommend for 22” wheels on a Taycan 4s
Front wheel 22 x 9
Rear wheel 22 x 10.5
I was thinking about going 35 series for the front because I want some extra tire for the pot holes
What do you think of these tires below, do you think it will rub?
Front: 275/35R22 or 265/35R22
Rear: 305/30R22

 

[EVie]

What tires do you recommend for 22” wheels on a Taycan 4s
Front wheel 22 x 9
Rear wheel 22 x 10.5
I was thinking about going 35 series for the front because I want some extra tire for the pot holes
What do you think of these tires below, do you think it will rub?
Front: 275/35R22 or 265/35R22
Rear: 305/30R22

Here are my learns. The 21" I have now did not do well with a big pothole going at high speeds in Sport Plus Mode. I think the larger wheel, with less tire, the weight of the car, and sport plus mode tight suspensions made the side wall of the rim cut the tires sidewall when it impacted the potholes sharp and deep edge. I don't think 22" wide tires will save you, infact probably increase the chance of it happening, My learn, don't drive in sport plus mode on the freeway at high speeds LOL.

 

[obscurelyfamous]

I drove that stretch of road to and from work for the better part of 15 years. Never hit a pot hole.

28 years in the Bay Area and the only big pot hole I ever hit was in a parking lot.

How recent was this? Either it was some time ago or you’re just incredibly fortunate. I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 35 years and the roads have seemingly gotten much worse in the last few years. For the last decade+ I’ve lived in San Francisco, so I haven’t been driving all that much. But every time I’m on 280 now, it feels starkly different from what I remember. I feel like I’m driving through 8 generations of asphalt at any given time. Switching lanes is like taking a trip through a dimensional portal, experiencing different road sensations every 5 feet, while actively avoiding craters.

 

[Hessam001]

Here are my learns. The 21" I have now did not do well with a big pothole going at high speeds in Sport Plus Mode. I think the larger wheel, with less tire, the weight of the car, and sport plus mode tight suspensions made the side wall of the rim cut the tires sidewall when it impacted the potholes sharp and deep edge. I don't think 22" wide tires will save you, infact probably increase the chance of it happening, My learn, don't drive in sport plus mode on the freeway at high speeds LOL.

Thanks for the advice, I got the Aero turbo 20” as for winter wheels and putting on 22” for summer. I had 22” on a Bentley and I was always bending inside of the wheel. Since these two cars are about the same weight I’m worried same thing will happen that’s why I want to go 35 series hoping it will help a bit

 

[Hessam001]

How recent was this? Either it was some time ago or you’re just incredibly fortunate. I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 35 years and the roads have seemingly gotten much worse in the last few years. For the last decade+ I’ve lived in San Francisco, so I haven’t been driving all that much. But every time I’m on 280 now, it feels starkly different from what I remember. I feel like I’m driving through 8 generations of asphalt at any given time. Switching lanes is like taking a trip through a dimensional portal, experiencing different road sensations every 5 feet, while actively avoiding craters.

I agree I live in the Bay Area also and the freeways are horrible and the streets are even worse. But since I already have 20” wheels stock with the car im getting some 22” for summer

 

[Ruthi]

It's been raining in CA and while on the freeway, I hit a pot hole and my front passenger tire got a flat and had to be replaced. A month later the same situation happen to my front driver side wheel and tire had to be replaced. Has this happen to anyone else? Is it the fact that my wheels are too big and the car is super heavy so when you hit a pothole it blows your tire up? I'm hoping this isn't going to be a common issue.

My car info:

• My car has the 21" Taycan Exclusive Design Wheels (The ones that look like big fan blades) Pic attached of my wheel pristine (not flat)
• All season 21" tires

Incidents:
1) Flat tire #1 - Driving on a freeway in Sport Plus mode going 55mph, hit a pothole and instant side wall blowout on front driver passenger wheel.
2) Flat tire #2 - Driving on a freeway in range mode going 80mph, hit a pothole and instant side wall blowout of the front passenger wheel.

Anyone else have this happen? or ideas or advise?

I hit one that went across the entire lane after the rain and blew out 3 tires - The city is closed for Covid and I will be looking to them to pay for this as soon as I get hold of someone - I was lucky the rims were not damaged

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