Who's had a tire explode in front of them? Damage?

[Pop_Rivit]

About 5 years ago I was on I-80 just west of Iowa City. There was a semi with an older trailer; the ICC bumper didn't extend beyond the rear wheels, there was only a rigid mudflap behind the rear tires.

A Taurus was traveling about 2-3 seconds behind the semi (I assume stupidly trying to draft) and I was about 10 seconds behind the car, all going just over 70 MPH. The left outside tire of the trailer blew, peeled away the tread, and the tread hit the mud flap breaking the mount. The tread didn't go far, but the mud flap and some of the hardware took out the grill, a chunk of hood and the windshield of the Taurus that was 2-3 seconds behind.

The state trooper faulted the semi, but verbally admonished the driver of the Taurus for following too closely.

 

[wander2039]

Only had one and that was in my 5th wheel while I was sleeping on the couch right over it. Can't say how loud it was but must been loud as I jumped out of bed scared witless. I thought someone shot the RV. Didn't figure it out till we moved in almost 9 months later.

 

[hattaresguy]

Had semi's lose them beside me, that's why I tend to give trucks a wide berth, crummy retreads blow off all the time.

 

[kkreit01]

Not me thankfully, but the head deacon in our church recently almost got killed by a runaway tractor-trailer tire/wheel combo. A wheel came loose from a semi trailer traveling the interstate in the opposite direction. It literally came flying at him, and landed on his hood. The hood wrapped around the tire, and portion of the GoodYear logo was imprinted on his hood. It totaled his Rav4. He walked away.

 

[CharBaby]

I did watch Mythe Busters shoot at a truck tire while moving but, I have never actually seen a tire explode on the highway, just the debris of rubber on the highway.

Years ago(~1970) while working at my Dads gas station, I was installing a tube inside of a tire. A customer brought in this used tire and a new tube for me to install and throw on a quick bubble balance.

After getting the tube all tucked in and while filling up the tube/tire with air, at the very last second I saw the tube popping through the sidewall of the tire(where there was a gash in the sidewall/I didn't know!). The bubble exploded and the air hit me in the right shoulder with enough force to turn me 180 deg's(some of that movement was my reaction). My shoulder hurt like I had been shot with a pistol and my ears were ringing. I'm glad it didn't hit me in the face. We didn't wear PPE the way we do today(I should have been wearing safety glasses) but, I have always worn steel toe shoes.

It was a cold morning and I was wearing a T-shirt, sweat shirt, denim jacket and coveralls. So, there was a bit of cushin for the blow. It left quite a mark!

 

[Ramblin Fever]

biggest part of the problem, I've noticed, is owners don't care to install new tires on trailers. Most guys with construction trailers especially, buy used tires and run then till there's nothing left, which causes dangerous situations for others on the road.

I went to a big o tire a month back for new tires on my company truck, there was nothing left to the 4 that came off, perhaps maybe 10-15% on 2 of them.

Big o tire turned around and slapped a *this tire has been safely inspected* sticker on the tires and stuck them in the used tire area to be sold.....I looked at the guy and I asked him *seriously?....you're all tellin me these tires are dangerous and yet you slap a safety sticker on them and put them out to be resold*

I was appalled....literally.

 

[Patman]

I had a huge chunk of a truck tire smack up against the passenger door of my Vette one morning last year on the way to work. When I pulled over, it looked like the door had been scuffed up pretty badly, but most of it wiped off right away with my fingers, and what was left came off easily the next time I buffed the finish. I got off lucky that time! If that huge chunk had hit dead on the front of the car it probably would have done a lot of damage!

I would not want to be a motorcyclist on a highway, having one of those huge gators hit them would be pretty serious!

 

[eljefino]

Not a tire but I saw the aftermath of a class B truck that lost its driveshaft on rte 128 in MA. The shaft was dented and bent pretty seriously and taking up space in the next-to-slowest lane, with people stopping or swerving around it, and 2-3 cars pulled over behind it in apparant distress.

My parents were driving out to Ohio in the 1970s and an external brake shoe (do they make those?) fell off a semi trailer and kicked a hole in their transmission pan.

I was driving a deserted highway at night, no tail lights in front of me, down a slight hill, and I encountered a chrome wheel trim ring rolling along at ~15 mph. The way it was rolling I couldn't see it due to two-dimensionality until I was on top of it. It hit my lower fascia then shot out the front of my car, caught air, and went over my windscreen/roof with a "zing" noise. I still don't understand the physics of that one!

 

[Mau]

I've experienced something similar but not a tire blow out (well maybe I don't know), I was on the 407 (for the non Ontarians its a toll route freeway here in Ontario) was driving at that time my Prelude, I see this dump truck on the side of the road with a bit of smoke coming out the end didn't really care much but as I drove by I heard a massive boom (it literally shook my car) I thought there had been a massive accident, looked around but all I saw was more smoke from the that truck.

Something blew not sure what but freaked me out.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

That happens to me everytime I drive up to NYC on I-95..Most times it is a 18 wheeler..It will scare the blank out of you when you are alongside it as you will think something blew on your own car till you see the shredded tire coming off the truck or car next to you..So far all the drivers got their vehicles under control without any issues.

Down here in Miami it happens very often..Since 2002 I have had at least 8 blowouts at speeds over 70MPH on I-95 and about 10 flat tires.That is no fun..I see an average 4 cars with flat tires on the side of the road down here everyday..I never saw that many on the side of the road in New Jersey or New York on a daily basis.

 

[Stewart Fan]

I was riding the school bus home when I was in 5th-6th grade. One of the rear duals blew and there were probably 52 pairs of soiled undies that afternoon.

It made quite the boom.

 

[Ken2]

Quote:
His right trailer tire goes off like a GRENADE!
Any of the towing forums has many threads about how junky trailer tires are. There is no consensus about any quality brand of trailer tire. The guys who are professional water skiers or professional bass fisherman tow their boats many miles every week and have had every brand of trailer tire fail even when nearly new, properly inflated, and properly loaded, balanced, good valve stems. Passenger tires on trailers are more reliable according to these guys. The best choice in trailer tires seems to be 16" highway rib-tread light truck tires if they'll fit the wheel well and there is a 16" wheel and hub combination that'll work.

Of course, abuse and neglect of the tire or the valve stem will cause any tire to fail, and the landscaper trailer may have been run with low air pressure, or overloaded, or mashed against curbs, or all of the above.

 

[Stewart Fan]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
The best choice in trailer tires seems to be 16" highway rib-tread light truck tires if they'll fit the wheel well and there is a 16" wheel and hub combination that'll work.



I whole heartedly agree with this. I'm running BFG commercial T/As and Sendel aluminum trailer wheels on my '07 Cougar fifth wheel.

My dad liked the combo so much he bought the same combo for his travel trailer.

 

[Spazdog]

Don't try to predict where an exploding 18-wheeler tire tread will go.

I was in the far left lane of I-20 when the tractor-trailer tire delaminated a big chunk of tire. It flew off at a 45° angle and hit me above the right eye.

I had seen it blow out earlier and further back and figured I had better move out and around. Away from what I thought would be the "danger zone" 3 full lanes over was not far enough. I thought that the rotation of the tire would fling pieces strictly in a radial fashion (no pun intended)

Boy was I wrong.

Tore the faceshield completely off my Swiss made Kiwi K-20 helmet. Squashed a football shaped section of the EPS liner.
I do not remember riding on to the left shoulder and stopping. No recollection of anything after the impact. All I remember is the impact and then having things come back into focus slowly. Don't know to this day how I came to a full stop and put my foot down.

THUD! Wake up at a complete stop trying to focus my eyes.

My neck was the worst injury suffered. It must have whipped my head back hard. I had problems for about 6-weeks.

But if it had hit any lower, it probably would have removed me from the bike entirely. So, I guess I am grateful for that. Or if I had been in a car, it might have come through the windshield. I hope I never find out.

I still cringe when someone else is driving next to a tractor trailer with a blown out tire. "Dude, Seriously. You gotta' move away from that tire." Few things actually give me anxiety attacks, but that's one of 'em.

 

[jjjxlr8]

I've twice been behind a semi-trailer tire when it came apart.

The first time it happened I was riding my motorcycle and was about 6 car lengths behind the trailer when the tread started coming off in big chunks. Fortunately I was able to avoid the biggest pieces and was not hit by any of them, nor did it do any damage to my bike tires.

Just last year, I was driving my wife's Accord and another semi-trailer tire self-destructed violently. I was in the left lane and the truck was in the next lane to the right and must have been at least 10 car lengths up ahead. The cars directly behind the truck were hitting the pieces and flinging them all over the place. It was choatic with cars swerving and large chunks of rubber and steel belts flying through the air, one of of which flew up in the air and landed directly on the hood of the Accord. I could see it coming, and it seemed like it was in slow motion, but there was nothing I could do to get out of the way.

It left a huge black streak of rubber but no permanent damage.

 

[R2d2]

Happens to me about twice a year. Im pretty good at dodging the the debris but have taken hits as well.