I've read those posts
made by those-in-the-know
on this site who claim that
the tire in the left-wing landing-gear
well blew-up and caused an aerodynamic
disruption that shattered the shuttle.

So 'what if'?...What if the shuttle Columbia had been fitted with landing-skids [as had been proposed for
the 1960's DYNASAUR space-glider]
instead of MICHELIN pneumatic tires?
[had to take a poke at the French]

If the Columbia had landing-skids,
instead of wheels, would it have
survived the worst part of reentry?
Would it have survived reasonably
intact until the crew could have had a chance to bailed-out?

Questions that I can't and won't even hazard a guess to.

Jacob