Exploding Truck Tire

heRS · 08-15-2013, 11:18 AM

Weird things happen - yesterday I was on the highway heading to town in a group including a couple of cars and a pickup ahead of me. There was a big BOOM - A plume of dust & crap shot up out of the back of a pickup about 20 feet high and the tread of a semi truck tire (road gator) flipped up about 10 feet above the truck bed, and flopped around on the road ahead of me. Thankfully, I was able to dodge it.

The guy driving the pickup was braking and trying to get pulled over - I bet he about peed himself when that thing blew. It was loud enough that it got my attention 3 cars back, with my music blasting. I'm sure his ears were ringing.

Anybody else ever see a semi truck tire blow it's tread like that? I knew it could happen while on the semi rolling down the road, but I had no idea it could happen just riding in a pickup bed!

Mr Twisty · 08-15-2013, 12:27 PM

The tire was just sitting in the bed of the truck???

It's certainly possible... you just proved it! They usually need heat and high pressure, but it must have been a bad tire just waiting to blow.

LStick · 08-15-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heRS

Weird things happen - yesterday I was on the highway heading to town in a group including a couple of cars and a pickup ahead of me. There was a big BOOM - A plume of dust & crap shot up out of the back of a pickup about 20 feet high and the tread of a semi truck tire (road gator) flipped up about 10 feet above the truck bed, and flopped around on the road ahead of me. Thankfully, I was able to dodge it.

Anybody else ever see a semi truck tire blow it's tread like that? I knew it could happen while on the semi rolling down the road, but I had no idea it could happen just riding in a pickup bed!

Same scenario two weeks ago on the way to work in front of me by about 500 feet.

Dad told me when I started driving to never follow semis-cement trucks, or any dual wheel vehicles too close. One for the above reason, and two, for flinging any rocks caught between the dual tires at your windshield.

Also, if passing one of those trailers at speed, remember the sight of that tire blowing and imagine that happening right next to you with your window rolled down. Another reason not to pass a truck on the right........or if passing...pass it and move on or let it pass and don't linger in its wake.

upflying · 08-15-2013, 07:01 PM

Could be a split rim that wasn't mounted correctly.

45thCamaro · 08-15-2013, 08:35 PM

I've had one blow up in my face. I used to volunteer with the fire department. We got called for a car fire, we pull up, no flame only smoke. We hear a hissing noise of some sort, we get next to the wheel to look under the car and BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE! It felt like we had sand in our eyes for a couple of days. Luckily none of us got hurt.

Scalded Dog · 08-15-2013, 09:42 PM

Kind of strange for one to blow up while sitting in a pickup bed, but, weird things happen.

I drove rigs for a few years. I will testify, when one of those blows, it is intense. It can shake the truck... one blowout made me think an airplane had just crashed into me... really. Sometimes, too, when a blowout happens, the shrapnel can blow out other tires on the duals or tandems, tear off mud flaps and brackets, or even puncture trailer cargo areas. Ain't no foolin' around.

Ryanbabz71 · 08-15-2013, 10:11 PM

I had a 2 wk old 2000 silverado, driving down the highway at night next to a semi next thing I know I hear boom then hear a thud. I was only 10 miles from home. Pull in the driveway get under the truck and there is a large black scuff and small dent on the metal skid plate underneath. If I didn't have the skid plate I probably would have had some serious damage.

Ryan

heRS · 08-17-2013, 02:49 AM

I thought it was strange that it was just in the bed of the truck and blew up, but while he was pulling over to the side of the road to pick up his 'gater I was looking to see if it was one of his pickup tires but they were all there. The plume of crap it sent up was surprising, and the tread it spit out was off a bigger tire than his truck had on it. The only thing I can think is that it was about 95 out, and if it had a bubble or something the heat could have caused it to blow.
I NEVER stay close to a semi on the highway. If someone is dawdling past I'll just wait for him to get clear before I buzz by. I've seen other videos of what happens when they blow, and it scares me if I'm riding with someone who is cruising beside a semi.

08-15-2013, 11:18 AM	#1
heRS Raised by Wolves Drives: IBM 2010 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 5,980 View My Garage	Exploding Truck Tire Weird things happen - yesterday I was on the highway heading to town in a group including a couple of cars and a pickup ahead of me. There was a big BOOM - A plume of dust & crap shot up out of the back of a pickup about 20 feet high and the tread of a semi truck tire (road gator) flipped up about 10 feet above the truck bed, and flopped around on the road ahead of me. Thankfully, I was able to dodge it. The guy driving the pickup was braking and trying to get pulled over - I bet he about peed himself when that thing blew. It was loud enough that it got my attention 3 cars back, with my music blasting. I'm sure his ears were ringing. Anybody else ever see a semi truck tire blow it's tread like that? I knew it could happen while on the semi rolling down the road, but I had no idea it could happen just riding in a pickup bed! __________________ Tori click the sig pic to view my build thread

08-15-2013, 12:27 PM	#2
Mr Twisty Drives: the 2nd amendment home Join Date: May 2008 Location: OK Posts: 14,763	The tire was just sitting in the bed of the truck??? It's certainly possible... you just proved it! They usually need heat and high pressure, but it must have been a bad tire just waiting to blow. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin lib·er·ty /ˈlibərdē/ noun 1. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views

08-15-2013, 10:11 PM	#7
Ryanbabz71 Drives: 2021 ZL1 1LE Satin Steel Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana Posts: 6,368 View My Garage	I had a 2 wk old 2000 silverado, driving down the highway at night next to a semi next thing I know I hear boom then hear a thud. I was only 10 miles from home. Pull in the driveway get under the truck and there is a large black scuff and small dent on the metal skid plate underneath. If I didn't have the skid plate I probably would have had some serious damage. Ryan __________________ Ryan 2021 ZL1 1LE Satin Steel Metallic Build Page: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632481

08-17-2013, 02:49 AM	#8
heRS Raised by Wolves Drives: IBM 2010 2LT RS M6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 5,980 View My Garage	I thought it was strange that it was just in the bed of the truck and blew up, but while he was pulling over to the side of the road to pick up his 'gater I was looking to see if it was one of his pickup tires but they were all there. The plume of crap it sent up was surprising, and the tread it spit out was off a bigger tire than his truck had on it. The only thing I can think is that it was about 95 out, and if it had a bubble or something the heat could have caused it to blow. I NEVER stay close to a semi on the highway. If someone is dawdling past I'll just wait for him to get clear before I buzz by. I've seen other videos of what happens when they blow, and it scares me if I'm riding with someone who is cruising beside a semi. __________________ Tori click the sig pic to view my build thread

08-15-2013, 08:35 PM	#5
45thCamaro Drives: 2012 Camaro 45th Anniversary RS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York Posts: 2,421	I've had one blow up in my face. I used to volunteer with the fire department. We got called for a car fire, we pull up, no flame only smoke. We hear a hissing noise of some sort, we get next to the wheel to look under the car and BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE! It felt like we had sand in our eyes for a couple of days. Luckily none of us got hurt.

08-15-2013, 09:42 PM	#6
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Kind of strange for one to blow up while sitting in a pickup bed, but, weird things happen. I drove rigs for a few years. I will testify, when one of those blows, it is intense. It can shake the truck... one blowout made me think an airplane had just crashed into me... really. Sometimes, too, when a blowout happens, the shrapnel can blow out other tires on the duals or tandems, tear off mud flaps and brackets, or even puncture trailer cargo areas. Ain't no foolin' around.