Don't torch that lug nut!

[Matthew Currie]

I don't think this has been posted before, but here's a rather interesting video showing what can happen when you heat up a wheel rim with the tire on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUVzgCHHuA&feature=player_embedded#

Yowch!

 

[scottmcneal]

HOLY crap..That would hurt...

 

[DELCOZRT]

Damn.

 

[88 Wagonman]

It's interesting that with valvestem core removed it could still happen. Thanks for posting this.

 

[crimsondragon]

I'm pretty sure I've applied a MAP torch to free up the overtorqued nuts on my other car. I guess I got lucky.

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

you would think a burnout would make alot more heat then that, but there lots that do them and never have blow outs

 

[AIbandit]

I still remember those 80's videos from highschool auto shop. Manikins getting their heads knocked off by flying rims. Traumatizing stuff

 

[crimsondragon]

you would think a burnout would make alot more heat then that, but there lots that do them and never have blow outs

http://www.streetfire.net/video/crazy-tire-explosion_735628.htm
:gee:

 

[urban yan]

I don't think this has been posted before, but here's a rather interesting video showing what can happen when you heat up a wheel rim with the tire on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUVzgCHHuA&feature=player_embedded#

Yowch!

That would be funnier if it was demonstrated by Paul Timberman

 

[xcm]

http://www.streetfire.net/video/crazy-tire-explosion_735628.htm
:gee:

1-tire-fire......

 

[bigalpha]

That was crazy. It's like they welded on it for just a few seconds and there was a delayed reaction between the end of welding and the start of the heat/pressure build up.

 

[AIbandit]

It's like they welded on it for just a few seconds and there was a delayed reaction between the end of welding and the start of the heat/pressure build up.

Like totally it was like delayed, that's like crazy.

 

[Darky]

you would think a burnout would make alot more heat then that, but there lots that do them and never have blow outs

I don't know that thing was up over 600* before it blew. Plus the guy says it has to do with a chemical reaction inside the body of the tire.

 

[westvirginia24976]

Plus the guy says it has to do with a chemical reaction inside the body of the tire.

That is the part I don't understand. Any of the engineers here able to shed light on this. I understand how heat is a catalyst for many chemical reactions, but what is the reaction here?

 

[Matthew Currie]

I've been wondering about this as well. The video defines the reaction as "pyrolosis," and I've yet to be sure that this is the same word as "Pyrolysis." Assuming it's just an alternative spelling, here's a little bit on the process:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis

There's a good deal of carbon in a tire, so it should probably be no surprise that funny stuff happens when it gets too hot.