Alan, at least you walked away from the Thema after its unfortunate demise, it shows how well built that model Lancia was in its day. Remember the tyre is the only key component that is in contact with the road, if one fails catastrophically then depending on speed, weather and other unknowns, the potential outcome could be devastating. I try not to economise on tyres, but then balance them with a reasonable mileage.
I know - it's amazing that the Thema (well, the Croma - they didn't test a Thema) came dead last in the first Euro NCAP crash tests that took place - I have the copy of What Car with a sensational splash on saying what a death trap Cromas (Themas) are. If this is a death trap, bring it on.
Although (as my wife, who was driving, pointed out at the time), if Themas had had wheel offset and suspension design that prevented them swerving in a blowout (like all VWs since the 70s), the accident wouldn't have happened in the first place. I wasn't driving, but the swerving that followed the blowout was extreme (only 65 mph and uphill, too), and I don't think I could have controlled it if I had been.
Re. tyres - I have also always bought good quality tyres, bought them in pairs, tried to make sure the best ones are on the driven axle, etc., and in the case of this journey I had actually swapped them front to back before leaving, so that the best ones were on the front.
However, this car had the tyres that were on it when I got it (Toyo Kogyos if I remember correctly), and they were good quality tyres with plenty of tread, but what I had failed to take into account was the the car (acquired via one Mr M Morris...) had stood in a yard in Devon for a long time, and the tyre that blew had dry-rotted invisibly inside where it touched the ground. The French police would very much have liked to nick me for having illegal tyres and so they examined them very carefully (that was pretty easy, what with them sticking up in the air an all...), but they pronounced them 'safe' and legal - the only visible external damage was the area where the offending tyre had thrown a tread.
But now, when I get a new (different) car, I always change the tyres unless I have absolute certainty that they are in good condition and with good 'provenance'. There is a really nice tyre guy in Exeter, and I have even got him, on occasion, to take tyres off the rim and check inside for hidden damage, but I only do that if I have reason to be suspicious. And I only buy 'good' brands - as you say, your life is in the hands of the 4-5mm of tyre that is in contact with the road at any given time.
