tire blow out on trip to walla walla

[pat in Santa Cruz]

one of my new Coker Classic 6:50 16s blew out the side wall in Susanville today, on the grade to Alturas, along a 1000 foot drop off with no shoulder. Not funny. The tire has less than 3000 miles on it. 3/4 of the sidewall separated from the rest of the tire. I suspected that tire was bad, as it took 10 ounces of weight to balance it. The others took zero to 3 ounces. I'll call Coker tomorrow to see what they wanna do about it. Regardless, I doubt they can get me a tire very soon.

Meanwhile, I now am driving with my spare 19 inch Goodyear on one front wheel, and have no second spare tire now. Not to mention how silly it looks :-)

So if any of you walla walls guys have a 650/16 ( don't care if its bias ply) I can buy and have mounted so I can get back to California, I would appreciate it. They're not easy to find anymore, I know. Thats why I am reaching out. I am going to be checking with tire shops on the rest of the trip up as well. But odds are I'll need to find a good older used one/

thanks

IMG_2727 by tiopato2000, on Flickr

IMG_2729 by tiopato2000, on Flickr