So I was driving the cougar home from work. Conditions were mid to high 90s and my speed was between 70 to 80 miles per hour.
My air pressure is 35 psi front and 30 psi rear just like all my other cars.
When I got the car, I was assured that the wheels were 100% all original. I failed to appreciate the implications.
The tires raised no alarm at that time until today.
I’m lucky to be alive, big-time!! 
They are actual bias ply tires!! If I knew that, I would’ve gotten rid of them long ago and put on radial tires.
The blow out was nothing short of a near death experience. The tire exploded and damaged the fender, causing the wheel well trim to be destroyed as well as an incorrect bumper guard trim.
I had to pull on the steering wheel with all my might to keep her from diving into the ditch and flipping. She dragged herself to the shoulder before I could get her fully stopped.
The actual blow out sent debris flying in all directions, some of which flew in front of the vehicle, namely the trim piece. I actually ran over some of that as I was fighting to stay on the road.
Multiple cars behind me had to take evasive action but no one wrecked. Both of my windows were down at the time. I was lucky because no debris came into the car and injured or killed me.
I’m 100% sure it can be repaired. I have 2 cans of the exact Grecian gold paint. The pin stripes are probably undamaged.
There are 2 options.
One: Carefully remove the trim from the opposite side and straighten the fender edges out on the driver’s side and call it good.
Two: Obtain another good used piece of trim and reinstall it, maybe 2 reproductions in the unlikely event those are available.
Either way, some cleanup is called for & I have to get it up on jack stands to get those 4 wheels radial tires or maybe just drive it across the street.
It should get across the street right?
Hopefully the exact or a very close sized radial can be found, even if selection is limited. Some of those bias ply tires are weirdly sized or so I’ve been told.
The important thing is that both myself and the vehicle weren’t seriously harmed.
Another detail is worth noting. Keep air in your spare and check it on a regular basis. As you can see, the air pressure was lower then what would be optimal.
I got her jacked up and changing to the spare with the original jack was fairly easy to do. I didn’t even mess up my uniform that much. I was back on the road in less then 10 minutes.
Carrying one of those portable air pumps with a jump starter is another change I’ll make.
The other 3 tires appear fine but they gotta go, no second chances. No, I do NOT want or need another bias ply tire!!
Aside from that pesky turn signal problem and an older Petronix that gave up the ghost, the car has actually been fairly safe and reliable. I don’t think pulling it off of the street is justified. Getting modern tires and maybe reinstalling the power steering and that new rag joint seems like a good idea.
The parts I have look so lonely & I have all the parts.
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The good news is that I think I got those original headlight doors to close a bit faster, removing one obstacle to inspection. I extended the stops that are used when the doors are open all the way and put some rubber bumpers where they end up.
I think the problem was caused simply from the doors opening up to far causing the springs to fight to keep them up once raised.
The electric conversion is $800 new & this will save a lot of money. I was testing the headlight doors which is why I had the vehicle out in the first place.
