Tire explodes on 18 wheeler! Scary hazard!

[Titan]

Glad I was in my truck instead of on the Valk. Thursday I was in the middle lane of a 3 lane interstate and following an 18 wheeler, which was in the right lane, by about 20 car lengths.

I heard an explosion and saw a bunch of debris flying off the right rear tires of the truck. The trailer swayed a bit and I saw the tires just disintegrating. There were pieces flying through the air and some were bouncing off the front of a pickup truck which was pretty close behind the big rig!

That set me to thinking really hard about how many times I've been on the Valk behind those things and hadn't given much thought to what might happen something like that happened!

The pieces of tire that were hitting the pickup could mean instant death to a rider!

Keep it in mind next time you find yourself in such a position.

[9Ball]

always have been aware of this.....that's why I usually spend very little time in the wake of any 18 wheeler...especially on those really hot days.

that was a good wake up call...thanks for sharing

[sandy]

The requirements for large trucks are that only the front tires have to be first run tires. All the rest can be recaps. That's why we see so many tire "Gators", as I call them, laying on the road. I also don't spend much time behind or next to large trucks.

[B]

I always look for signs of smoke or small pieces of rubber flying. Last year I saw both as I started to pass in I-40 in OK. I got off the throttle & on the brake ... Ended up plying Gator dodging from about 50 ft back. :S

[bassman]

In my cage on a two laner doing bout 50mph...on coming lane is an 18 wheeler doing, I'm assuming 50 also, when suddenly a big cloud of smoke from the left rear of the truck and before I could blink a piece of tire case hit the front hood of my cage leaving a rather significant dent.  There was crap flying EVERYWHERE but I only got hit with that one piece (probably 4"x4").   As the words in the song go..."nowhere to run, nowhere to hide baby".....can't imagine what would have happend if I was on the Valk and got hit with that same piece or any of the other stuff flying all around me.

[B]

Glad mine came with a warning... BAD STUFF.

[solo1]

When I rode my bikes on the Interstate in hot weather and needed to pass a semi, I waited until the left lane was clear and then it was downshift and WOT until i was well around and past him.  Better a speeding ticket than a smack by a piece of a tire..

Watch for the gators, they'll kill ya!

[Jess from VA]

The dangers of following Semi's has been particularly covered in MSF classes for some years.  (Same for following people who throw chit in their pickup beds loose, or cobble bicycles or other chit to the top or rear of their cars/trucks, and all trailers). 

In really busy/crowded traffic where there is nowhere to go and in the bad weather/rain, I have often found solace following a well driven semi traveling a nice constant speed centered in his (far right) lane... with a decent following distance of 40-50 yards, but it is bad business.  Their tires routinely explode and can take you out on a bike even if you are paying attention and are good at dodge-ball.

Wayne also notes a very good technique.  When passing a semi (or any other big SOB) on a two lane (or anytime you are right next to him) it is advisable to not get next to him until you may pass from rear to front unimpeded by any other traffic.  You don't have to go super fast, but do not pass at all until you can do so completely..... don't allow yourself to just sit next to him in traffic.  This may not be so bad in Kansas or Nebraska where there are only three turns in the whole state,  but it can be very bad on I-81 in the winding mountains on a really windy day, and if a tire explodes next to you it doesn't matter.  If you are passing in a line of cars.... hold back behind the truck, until the car ahead has entirely cleared the truck plus 40 feet, then scoot all the way by. 

By the same token, never drive/ride onto multiple RR tracks until you may ride completely across.... allow cars ahead to entirely clear the tracks plus 40 feet before crossing at all.

I suppose I am preaching to the choir for many, maybe not for everyone.

[JimL]

I think about this situation constantly when riding on Interstate highways.  I minimize the amount of time I spend behind an 18 wheeler and also minimize the time I spend beside any vehicle.  I try to stay well behind them and when I do pass, I accelerate in order to minimize my exposure to retreads and the type of hazard you described. 

This really makes my wife uncomfortable when she is riding with me, partly because I think she senses that I am uncomfortable while near an 18 wheeler.  I don't know if this is good policy or not, but I probably won't alter this pattern unless I see the logic in doing something different.

[Valkahuna]

I think about this situation constantly when riding on Interstate highways.  I minimize the amount of time I spend behind an 18 wheeler and also minimize the time I spend beside any vehicle.  I try to stay well behind them and when I do pass, I accelerate in order to minimize my exposure to retreads and the type of hazard you described. 

This really makes my wife uncomfortable when she is riding with me, partly because I think she senses that I am uncomfortable while near an 18 wheeler.  I don't know if this is good policy or not, but I probably won't alter this pattern unless I see the logic in doing something different.

+1. Good policy. I do exactly the same thing. You have to stay one step short of paranoid and constantly scan anything near you for hazards. Then, imagine the worst will happen and look or think about a way out. It's amazing, but if you make this a habbit, it becomes second nature and you do it all automatically! That's the difference between being a biker, and an OLD biker.

[Walküre]

The dangers of following Semi's has been particularly covered in MSF classes for some years.  (Same for following people who throw chit in their pickup beds loose, or cobble bicycles or other chit to the top or rear of their cars/trucks, and all trailers). 

In really busy/crowded traffic where there is nowhere to go and in the bad weather/rain, I have often found solace following a well driven semi traveling a nice constant speed centered in his (far right) lane... with a decent following distance of 40-50 yards, but it is bad business.  Their tires routinely explode and can take you out on a bike even if you are paying attention and are good at dodge-ball.

Wayne also notes a very good technique.  When passing a semi (or any other big SOB) on a two lane (or anytime you are right next to him) it is advisable to not get next to him until you may pass from rear to front unimpeded by any other traffic.  You don't have to go super fast, but do not pass at all until you can do so completely..... don't allow yourself to just sit next to him in traffic.  This may not be so bad in Kansas or Nebraska where there are only three turns in the whole state,  but it can be very bad on I-81 in the winding mountains on a really windy day, and if a tire explodes next to you it doesn't matter.  If you are passing in a line of cars.... hold back behind the truck, until the car ahead has entirely cleared the truck plus 40 feet, then scoot all the way by. 

By the same token, never drive/ride onto multiple RR tracks until you may ride completely across.... allow cars ahead to entirely clear the tracks plus 40 feet before crossing at all.

I suppose I am preaching to the choir for many, maybe not for everyone.

Probably half a million miles on two tires, and I have NEVER been upset about ANYone reminding me, of ANYthing! I think above anything else, it's complacency that gets an experienced rider - not always, of course, but often enough...

Knew a few guys years ago, in the Wing forums, that had tires explode next to them on the highway. One hurt very bad, the other very, very lucky. I go by them pretty darn fast, with plenty of room. But it ain't fun dodging tire carcusses! And seems to me, with the downturn of the economy, the truck are stretching them even further, as I seem to see a LOT of them on the road.

Again, thanks for any and all reminders - never tire of hearing them.

R

[fstsix]

Seen this on Mythbusters TV and they seem to determined it was false? the problem they didn't address was the explosion did not kill their dummy, but they forgot about getting slapped off your bike from the tire remnants at 60 mph or whatever.   

[Walküre]

Seen this on Mythbusters TV and they seem to determined it was false? the problem they didn't address was the explosion did not kill their dummy, but they forgot about getting slapped off your bike from the tire remnants at 60 mph or whatever.  

Exactly! Or, startled by the bomb going off next to you, which was the case of the Winger that got hurt. He hit the guard rail, and lost control. If I recall,  the other one just missed getting hit by a huge chunk of tread, or was just slightly hit. I've been next to one in a cage, and shook me up quite a bit. It really is like a bomb going off, the noise, and then the flapping as the tread tries to rip loose. I would NOT want to be next to one on two wheels!

[Robert]

The resulting road gators are no less dangerous. I see them all the time down here and drivers dont stop they just keep on going till the tire disintegrates leaving destruction all over the road. If you get hit or run over one of those things the steel in it will slice you or your tire up.

[johnhunter44]

This same thing happened to my daughter in her cage.  The 18 wheeler's tire exploded and threw a huge chunk of it into her grill causing $1200.00 worth of damage.  He kept going, but she believes that he had to have noticed because of his actions swerving.  There should be some way to hold them accountable for their damage.  I can see ruling it a road hazzard if it is lying in the road and you hit it, but you can't control when one blows up next to you and flings it into your dash, so is anyone familiar with what the law would be here?  My insurance company said that if his bumber fell off, it would be covered under one deductible (200) (I think this might have been under the comprehensive as if she hit a deer), but since it was a tire, it was covered under the higher deductible (500).. Why this makes any difference, I don't know, but they still had to listen to a cussin from me....Can't imagine if I had been on my bike and this happened.....

[Momz]

Back in 2006 A freind and I were going to I96 Speedway (Between Grand Rapids and Lansing MI) to watch some flat track races.

We were passing a semi on an S-curve on I-96 when the left side drive wheels tire exploded as we were next to it. Yeah, big chunks flew and hit both our bikes (minor scrapes on the bikes) and the sound made us both temporarily deaf. The force of the explosion blew both of us neaerr to the shoulder than we thought was safe.

I believe that if we were going slower that it could have been tragic,....however we were going in excess of 95 MPH when we passed that semi. The truck did swerve and pull off to the right shoulder. It was still there hours later when we drove home after the races. 

[dosnewfs]

A good chance of why the truck was still there is because when that tire blows it can tear up a whole lot of stuff.  I was in the support vehicle following one of our overweight rigs when he had a tire go.  It tore up the air lines to the brakes and the wires to the lights.  With so many trucks having air suspension and such now there is even more to get tore up.  They tear up fiberglass and even steel as they whip around.

[fudgie]

I like to tail gate them cause they block the wind!  Ah just kidding.
Its another little obsticle in our everyday riding. I think about it but never let it get me down. A few times I'll ride beside one for a few miles just so he blocks the 40 mph crosswind. Tell me who hasent ever passed a semi without looking at your reflection in the baby moon hubcaps? Or been close enough to see the mile counter on the rim? Most of the time if we do pass one I will stay on the outside lane to pass. Sometimes I get lazy and stay next to them to pass, esp if they provide shade. 

[Big IV]

I was in  a lane in Miami that felt like the center of a road 30 lanes wide.  We were on the way up from Key West. A few cars in front of me was a truck that threw the tread backwards. I was able to dodge it in my lane. Dad, following on the gold wing, wasn't so lucky. It wrapped up his left side as it hit.
Luckily, besides major bruising and a foot that swelled up huge Dad was okay.

Those things can be a hazard.

[Normandog]

When I rode my bikes on the Interstate in hot weather and needed to pass a semi, I waited until the left lane was clear and then it was downshift and WOT until i was well around and past him.  Better a speeding ticket than a smack by a piece of a tire..

Watch for the gators, they'll kill ya!

Exactly how I handle 'em Wayne. I was cruisin down the interstate one day and saw a big gaitor lyin on the side of the road. It got me thinkin' and I've been getting around 18 wheelers in a hurry ever since.

[valkMJ]

Seen this on Mythbusters TV and they seem to determined it was false? the problem they didn't address was the explosion did not kill their dummy, but they forgot about getting slapped off your bike from the tire remnants at 60 mph or whatever.   

They actually simulated this by firing a chunk of tire at a dummy's head at 45 mph.  The verdict?  Instant Death.

Mythbusters dianamometer of death	powered by Aeva

Skip to 4:30 if you just want to watch the results.  They're pretty frightening.   

[5_19]

When I past a 18 wheeler last Friday on Interstate 30  East of Dallas I noticed one of the rear trailer tires was running low on air. The picture of this thing exploding any second made me pull up beside him and sign to him he had tire problem. Driver thanked me and got off at the next exit.

I would like to think most tires don't just explode. A lot of the time there has to be some tell tale sign something is wrong. Most people just don't bother, that's what's wrong. My 0.02 ~TJ

[hubcapsc]

Night riding on the Interstate and gators is a big deal, I think...

Go slow enough to avoid having them pop into your field of vision without time to react, and
you might get rear-ended...

Go fast enough to avoid being an obstacle yourself, and gators pop into your field of vision
without much time to react...

Just go back roads, more fun, and the gators (deer) are moving 

-Mike