Big rig blow-out

[FJamR]

Was on my daily commute on the Feejer today, I have seen trucks loose the retreads, but witnessed my first big rig blow out. I've read others experiences, but I have a new respect for those tires when they go like the one I saw today.

There was a rig in the #1 lane, a pick up in #2 (about even with the rig's tractor), a Mustang in the #3 in front of me. The Stang wasn't quite even with the rig's trailer tires, (slightly behind). Then it exploded, extremely loudly and violently. I am glad the Stang was a head, to slow me down for this moment in time. Part of the tire had shot across the freeway, through the stangs pathway and into the center divider. There is no doubt in my mind that if it would of hit me, I would have been down hard.

I have at times been lax about moving in my lane away from big rigs, but no more. This was one of those times when I didn't have to get seriously hurt to learn something. Ride safe all!

 

[James Burleigh]

Thanks for the reminder. Trucks are bad news. Never had a similar experience, but am mindful of trucks nevertheless. If I am coming up parallel to a truck on the freeway I change lanes to pass them two lanes away, and I ALWAYS get away from them as quickly as possible. Finally, I NEVER share lanes next to a truck unless it is stopped or moving stop&go and I've got an out. A lot of commuters share with trucks at speed. Crazy! :blink: We've lost several commuters over the last couple years in the Bay Area to trucks, including an off-duty Oakland motor officer on his way home along the very dangerous 580 just west of Pleasanton.

 

[twowheelnut]

I've seen a few semi tire blowouts while in the cage. That **** can take off your leg or worse. Anyone that rides with me will confirm my expeditious and wide berth pass of anything bigger than a van.

 

[Mooseonagoose]

Years back, driving an old V-Dub I once had, on a dark twisty twisty two-laner w/ fairly heavy traffic both directions [lights in my eyes & mirrors]; I took a heavy hit [shuddered the whole car] on the drivers side front fender that I never saw coming and thererfore didn't know what I'd hit. I nervously pulled over as soon as I had a chance hoping it hadn't been an animal, ...much less a human. Going back I discovered it had been about a 3'x10" section of truck tire, ...severely bent bumper [pre-67 heavier style w/ guard bar] headlight was history as well as FF which was pushed back far enough to be cutting the tire. Get this little flashback every once in a while when I'm on the bike & passing a Semi, ...keeps me pretty cautious!

 

[madmike2]

There are a number of Forum members who are in the trucking industry who constantly remind us NOT to ride next to a truck. For many reasons but surely a "sudden catastrohic tire failure". The force of a blowout, alone, can knock you off your bike.

I "pass" trucks. If traffic limits my ability to pass, I stay behind them (in my own lane) until I can completely get past them.

Your post is a good reminder as the Spring/Summer season starts.

Even iffen yer kilt by en accidental, yer still reely reely daid.)

 

[keithaba]

On my last trip to FL. I got stuck behind 2 rigs on I-95. It was only 2 lanes, and there was another rig to my right. I had no where to go, and was really nervous. Eventually there was enough room for me to sneak through, definately not enough room for a car, but more than enough for a bike.

As I pass, in front of the lead truck is a VA. state trooper.

Obviously he pulled me over. When he asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?" I simply explained that I was stuck behind the rigs, no where to go, I'd rather take a risk with speeding that sitting behind a couple of trucks waiting for a blow out to kill me.

After checking my liscence, ins. and registration, he told me he rode an R1, and he knew what I meant, but that doesn't excuse me from speeding. Slow down, and avoid those situations. :clapping:

 

[Cdogman]

I've seen a few semi tire blowouts while in the cage. That **** can take off your leg or worse. Anyone that rides with me will confirm my expeditious and wide berth pass of anything bigger than a van.

Absofreakinlutly, I have been in the presence of a blowout twice in my life on the slab. Both times in a cage. One time I was in a car driving and it blew 4-5 feet to my right (I was in the inside lane) and it felt like I had been hit broadside by a battering ram. That was just the shock wave. No debris marks on my car later so I had to conclude no impact.

Another more recent time was me following a truck and offset about 3 lanes and several hundred feet in trail. Seeing the first chunk or retread come off my passenger says "That truck is loosing a tire" so I add trail distance to almost 1000 feet, there were chunks of tire flying HUNDREDS of feet all over the place for about 2000 yards of travel many of them big enough to go through a windshield, let alone a windscreen.

Trucks have a HUGE kill zone for bikes. I stay out of it at all cost, they make me nervous like a rat at a cat concert.

 

[FJRay]

Last year on the way to WFO a log truck lost the tread on the left rear in front of me. Ther were chunks of **** flying all around and the screen on the bike still has the scar from one of them. Ran over some big chunks but the FJR kept going sorta straight. For sure a scary moment.

 

[artistonFJR]

Yeesh! Never been there when it happened, and frankly could do without, but I can imagine the ****-yer-pants factor! I always check for an "out" before I get "in", but on occasion that "out" closes and my eyes get big, watching for anything Murphy might have in mind. I doNOT like being next to those bigboys.

Nice to have serious wads of power to make the passing profile a mere second or less! Just brace for that buffet of wind when you reach his deerpusher...

C

 

[TCMike]

As a driver of a semi I would highly advise that bikes allow plenty 'o space around them. The front 2 wheels are not allowed to be re-treads, but the other 16 can be. I've had some pretty crappy rental trailers, which had tires that looked barely passable. Our company trailers are in good shape, but It's best to just keep your distance.

Did anyone see the episode of C.S.I. when the retread took off a go-cart racer's head? It's possible.

 

[Ignacio]

Did anyone see the episode of C.S.I. when the retread took off a go-cart racer's head? It's possible.

No, but Mythbusters covered in a much more scientific fashion. The bottom line was that it hadn't actually happened to any bikers in their research, but if it did it would be catastrophic to one's head and spine.....if one is DIRECTLY behind the big rig...not to one side. Big Rig Myths

 

[Bearly Flying]

Well I don't know about Mythbusters testing.

But I have had tires blow out on Trucks before and have seen tires blow out on the highway.

You DO NOT want to be anywhere around when it happens, especially beside or behind the truck.

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Great post, JamR. Glad you escaped injury. Some good stories here to remind everyone why they should [SIZE=14pt]stay away from the big rigs[/SIZE]

 

[zzzzip]

Especially cattle and pig trucks, and watch out for the guy throwing the big soda bottle full of yellow "pop". <_<

B)

 

[I'mAllIn]

I sell Mack, Volvo & International trucks and have done so for (20) years. Trust me, NOTHING good can happen to you around a big rig on the highway. Twist the wrist and get the hell away!

 

[JRO]

I haven't had any tires blow out around me, but I was returning from Minnesota late one night, on the interstate, and this cargo trailer in front of me peeled off a large sheet of aluminum. I thought I was done for, but it laid down flat on the highway, and I rode right over it. Never felt a thing.

This proves semis are always safe to ride nearby.

 

[dcarver]

I've seen a few semi tire blowouts while in the cage. That **** can take off your leg or worse. Anyone that rides with me will confirm my expeditious and wide berth pass of anything bigger than a van.

A follow up to TWN's comment. Riding across Utah with TWN and Barabus, TWN made the comment at a gas break that he always looks at the tires of big rigs before passing them. Sometimes you can see precursors to failure. I never checked before, allways do now.

 

[painman]

As an X driver, I could tell some horror stories. But of note here is the tread or cap after it comes off the tire carcass is laying in the roadway, (called by cb slang, an "alligator") can and has caused major damage to drivers and their vehicles. It is black and hard to see especially at night. The worse thing that can happen to the trucker while hauling a load is to have a front tire go out. Scary, believe me. Also of note, when out at night on lone highways especially in Nevada and Arizona, owner/operators sometimes kick it up to 100 mph + and leave it there, and yes they have a load on. You don't want to be by one of them if a tire goes! PM. <><

 

[Taff]

Was on my daily commute on the Feejer today, I have seen trucks loose the retreads, but witnessed my first big rig blow out. I've read others experiences, but I have a new respect for those tires when they go like the one I saw today.There was a rig in the #1 lane, a pick up in #2 (about even with the rig's tractor), a Mustang in the #3 in front of me. The Stang wasn't quite even with the rig's trailer tires, (slightly behind). Then it exploded, extremely loudly and violently. I am glad the Stang was a head, to slow me down for this moment in time. Part of the tire had shot across the freeway, through the stangs pathway and into the center divider. There is no doubt in my mind that if it would of hit me, I would have been down hard.

I have at times been lax about moving in my lane away from big rigs, but no more. This was one of those times when I didn't have to get seriously hurt to learn something. Ride safe all!

Sadly, early last year (2007) a biker was hit by a truck tire blow out (I think it was on I-90).

The force of the tire hitting the bike caused the rider to part company with his machine.

Poor rider ended up on a concrete divider, which killed him.

When you ride with me I have some rules for these truckers;

1) If you can, change lanes so that you have at least one lane between you and truck.

2) Never, never ride alongside any truck because of a) Tire blowout B) blind spot.

3) If you cannot get an extra lane between you and truck, stay WELL back until you can overtake safely and quickly, don't delay in passing truck.

4) As I pass the truck I check the rotating wheels so I can see any "rubber flapping" around the circumference of the tire. This usually means an impending separation of the tread from the tire.

5) Lastly, allow plenty of distance between you and the truck (whether truck is in front or behind you) for braking. Not nice to get reamed by an 18 wheeler!

Ride safe,