The tire blew the failing aluminum very far inside the failure zone of
its structural inegrity. The outer wing would have failed a few seconds
later without the tire blowing, but I don't think the Shuttle would have
become so quickly twisted into a sideways position that ripped it apart
if the tire hadn't blown well inside of where the wing heating and tear
caused by the cracked CCR and tiles falling off would have occurred and
was weakening the wing.

It's kind of a moot point, but some of you pricks are really dumb (IMHO).

Thanks,

Rick