This happened last week on my way to Kentucky. I was eastbound on I30 between Hope and Arkadelphia in Arkansas at around 1:30 AM. I had the cruise on 72 mph (speed limit 70) and moved into the left lane to pass a semi. There was a large chunk of debris straddling both lanes (not sure what it was, appeared to be wrapped in a tarp) so I moved left to avoid it-right into the path of what appeared to be a driveshaft. Not enough shoulder to move left and the semi was right next to me so the best option was to brake hard and try to straddle it as best I could. Maybe got down to 60-65 (I was pretty much right on top of it when I saw it) and felt a hard bump as I hit it. Then I heard a loud rumbling and thought initially I had torn off part of my exhaust-and then I noticed the steering was sluggish and realized it was probably a flat. Luckily, there was a rest stop maybe 1/4 mile from where I hit the driveshaft so I pulled in to change the tire. Had to unload all my detailing stuff to get to the spare. Since the front tire was flat, I first removed the rear tire and put the space saver spare there and the rear tire up front. Once I got the front tire off, I saw what really happened. The impact broke out a huge chunk of the barrel of the wheel. 
My space saver spare had maybe 10 lbs of air in it (supposed to be 60) so I went around 40-45 up to the next exit with a gas station, around 4 miles or so. Filled up the spare and then headed up to Little Rock since the gas station attendant told me where the Nissan dealer was there. Great directions too, no problems finding it. By then, it was 3:30 am and the only hotel at that exit (Holiday Inn Express) wanted $120 for a room-and I was getting up at 7 AM when the Nissan dealer opened. No way. Instead, I parked on the road next to the dealer and tried to sleep-maybe catching 5-10 minutes here and there. I would have pulled on the lot and up to the service area but they have locked gates.
At 6:50 am, the gates were open and I was able to pull up and they got me right in even though technically they weren't open. They said they did not have a new wheel in stock, it would be the next morning before they would have one. I asked if they could find a used wheel and they said they'd start calling around at 8 am when the yards started opening up. I told them if they couldn't find a factory wheel, just find a 15" steel wheel and a tire with the same height as my wheels and I'd take find a wheel when I got to Kentucky-really didn't want to try driving another 650 miles on a damn donut spare!
They also checked their used car lot but all the 5th gen Maximas had the 16" five spoke wheels and mine are 6 spoke 17" wheels. Anyway, they finally found one (refinished!) and got me on the road by around noon.
Good thing they found a used wheel-at $224-because a new wheel would have been $1100! Obviously, they jack up prices in instances where people would typically use their car insurance to cover it, but the total bill for the wheel, tire, mount, balance and inspection (just some scrapes underneath) was $500.14 and my deductible is $500.
No way would I have popped for one $1100 wheel anyway, I could have bought some nice aftermarket wheels and another tire for less than that.
Anyway, the pics...
Tire didn't make it either...
My space saver spare had maybe 10 lbs of air in it (supposed to be 60) so I went around 40-45 up to the next exit with a gas station, around 4 miles or so. Filled up the spare and then headed up to Little Rock since the gas station attendant told me where the Nissan dealer was there. Great directions too, no problems finding it. By then, it was 3:30 am and the only hotel at that exit (Holiday Inn Express) wanted $120 for a room-and I was getting up at 7 AM when the Nissan dealer opened. No way. Instead, I parked on the road next to the dealer and tried to sleep-maybe catching 5-10 minutes here and there. I would have pulled on the lot and up to the service area but they have locked gates.
At 6:50 am, the gates were open and I was able to pull up and they got me right in even though technically they weren't open. They said they did not have a new wheel in stock, it would be the next morning before they would have one. I asked if they could find a used wheel and they said they'd start calling around at 8 am when the yards started opening up. I told them if they couldn't find a factory wheel, just find a 15" steel wheel and a tire with the same height as my wheels and I'd take find a wheel when I got to Kentucky-really didn't want to try driving another 650 miles on a damn donut spare!
They also checked their used car lot but all the 5th gen Maximas had the 16" five spoke wheels and mine are 6 spoke 17" wheels. Anyway, they finally found one (refinished!) and got me on the road by around noon.
Good thing they found a used wheel-at $224-because a new wheel would have been $1100! Obviously, they jack up prices in instances where people would typically use their car insurance to cover it, but the total bill for the wheel, tire, mount, balance and inspection (just some scrapes underneath) was $500.14 and my deductible is $500.
No way would I have popped for one $1100 wheel anyway, I could have bought some nice aftermarket wheels and another tire for less than that.
Anyway, the pics...
Tire didn't make it either...
and be:hairpull at the debris all over the road..id hate to imagine what the turnout would be like if it hit your gas tank. the main thing you came out of it alright.
