Bullet Hole or Object on Road?

[profjeremy]

She could retrace her tracks EXACTLY tomorrow, then if she gets another flat tire in the exact same spot……well, we might not know for sure but we could probably rule out a bullet.

That’s actually the thing that makes me question the “rebar in the road” theory… I bet tens of thousands of cars drive over that exact spot in the road every single day. You would think there’d be at least hundreds of flat tires daily in that case.

 

[JTKelly]

The hole in the tire tread is more toward the center of the tire, while the hole in the rim is 1-2” further toward the car, so it angled a bit from the outside-in. I agree that my first thought was something not anchored likely would have just laid down if it was at an angle, rather than having enough force to punch a hole through the rim.

Taking it to a mechanic for an inspection on Monday… was planning on today, but some work emergencies forced us to reschedule.

So the hole in the rim is the bonus hole?

 

[Amishman44]

I have seen a lot of punctured tires over the years, ASE technician in my younger years, service advisor & service manager.

I have NEVER seen a rim punctured, ever. Something long enough to puncture tire & wheel would likely have stayed in the tire & wheel

My experience as well...never have I ever seen a rim punctured!
As a Class A CDL Driver for 8 years, I've seen bent...but never punctured!

 

[profjeremy]

So the hole in the rim is the bonus hole?

Yep, bonus for the guy selling used wheels on eBay!

 

[Ark]

That’s actually the thing that makes me question the “rebar in the road” theory… I bet tens of thousands of cars drive over that exact spot in the road every single day. You would think there’d be at least hundreds of flat tires daily in that case.

The way loose objects randomly wedge themselves and impale tires is weird. A hundred people can run over a loose screwdriver without incident until one person hits it just right.

 

[92FSTech]

The way loose objects randomly wedge themselves and impale tires is weird. A hundred people can run over a loose screwdriver without incident until one person hits it just right.

Yep. Road debris reacts in weird ways, which is also why I always try to stop and remove it when I can safely do so (obviously not an option on a busy highway like I65). I've found enough tools doing that to pretty well stock my "roadside assistance" toolbox that I keep in my car at work. The road giveth, and the road taketh away!

 

[Creedmoor]

One would think it it was a bullet that traveled through the tire and wheel the wheel would have a dent/mark on the opposite inside.
Was it a rear tire or front?

 

[bwframe]

.308 ? 7.62x39?

 

[VinceU1]

A friend of mine had a hole in the STEEL rim on his Jeep. He took the tire/rim to the store he bought it at and the tech said he never knew that re-bar came in .308 size. Oops!

 

[profjeremy]

One would think it it was a bullet that traveled through the tire and wheel the wheel would have a dent/mark on the opposite inside.
Was it a rear tire or front?

Rear and angled from roughly the middle of the tread to about 1.5" closer to the inside edge of the rim where the hole in the rim was. Conceivable something might have missed the other side of the rim.

 

[mmpsteve]

Rear and angled from roughly the middle of the tread to about 1.5" closer to the inside edge of the rim where the hole in the rim was. Conceivable something might have missed the other side of the rim.

I would think anything elongated enough to puncture tire and rim would distort the exit hole more. Interested to see what the examination shows.

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