Watch out for those loose Tractor Trailer treads!

[GeorgiaRoller]

https://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/tire-tread-led-to-1181216.html

I've ridden that section of road many times but this can happen anywhere. We see those tire treads on the side of the hwy's & interstates all the time but that's only after they've been run over and kicked to the side by numerous vehicles. I try to never follow a cager too close on the interstate for this very reason...giving myself as much time as possible to avoid a last second piece of road debris that's in your lane. Cars/Trucks ride right over blown tractor trailer tire treads and it's no big deal but on a motorcycle its a possible life or death situation.

Be careful out there folks, watch your spacing and keep your head on a swivel!!!

 

[not2shabby]

https://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/tire-tread-led-to-1181216.html

I've ridden that section of road many times but this can happen anywhere. We see those tire treads on the side of the hwy's & interstates all the time but that's only after they've been run over and kicked to the side by numerous vehicles. I try to never follow a cager too close on the interstate for this very reason...giving myself as much time as possible to avoid a last second piece of road debris that's in your lane. Cars/Trucks ride right over blown tractor trailer tire treads and it's no big deal but on a motorcycle its a possible life or death situation.

Be careful out there folks, watch your spacing and keep your head on a swivel!!!

Amen! It happened to me several years ago on my 954. I was on the outerbelt heading home in the left lane too close to a car in front of me to avoid the 4 ft. chunk of retread his tires kicked up on it's side. I weighted the footpegs right as I hit it and swear I got a little airtime. The front end pushed over a little and when it landed the bike wiggled in protest to being misaligned and I felt part of the tire tread slap my boot. When I got home, after cleaning my drawers out, I looked the bike over. The tires were fine, but a chunk of fairing behind the exhaust directly under the bike was missing and there was a 14 inch black rubber mark right in front of the footpeg on the fairing. Ever since then I don't follow as close as I used to.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I was on I-5 south of Seattle when a truck blew a retread. Missed my bike and head by a couple feet. I lucked out.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I have hit two of them on bikes. One on my VTX1800 that didn't do anything but make the rear tire leave the ground.

The last one was last year on I40 outside of Nashville on my way home from the Wheaton Camping Trip. Traffic was moving really fast and I let myself get trapped behind a big white Chevy truck.

He hit a big (prolly 4ft) gator and spun it around. I hit it hard and fast, and it smacked the crap out of the bottom of my right foot. It tingled for an hour.

At the next gas stop, I inspected the bike and realized the impact had pulled part of my fairing loose and later found that it had bent my right side Highway peg pretty good. It was a Hell of an impact, and was glad to not find any front end damage.

I have worked way harder to leave more space between me and big vehicles that I can't see around. That spinning gator I hit last year coulda been much worse!

 

[TwoWhldTerror]

I simply do not understand why retreads are not outlawed.

 

[not2shabby]

I simply do not understand why retreads are not outlawed.

$$$$$! Screw people, it's all about the Benjamins!

 

[NMRoadRunner]

The're called "Road Alligators" Or just "Alligators" :lol: and being just north of the border, and the trucks comming up out of Mexico, there are tons of them here in "Newer Mexico" <_<

 

[Mr Bill]

The're called "Road Alligators" Or just "Alligators" :lol: and being just north of the border, and the trucks comming up out of Mexico, there are tons of them here in "Newer Mexico" <_<

Around here we call them "gators." I always call them out on the cb radio along with smokey the bear taking pictures.

 

I had to ride over a gator in my RV because I was stuck in the lane and the gator went airborne after I rode over it and smacked the front of the 18 wheeler tailgating me. That driver was cursing for hours!

 

[rickysnickers]

I simply do not understand why retreads are not outlawed.

I second that!!! I don't care if it's a money issue. Safety is way more important that $$$. Oh, and on a side note, just wait until all the Mexican truckers are allowed to drive their sh*&boxes into the country.....

Rick

 

[CAJW]

Good advice that needs to be repeated, don't follow too close so you can avoid a gator as opposed to having to ride over it and hope for the best. Thing that sticks in my craw is, the newspaper article points out the tire tread was at fault, drops that story and goes on to list 5 other motorcycle accidents that have happened on Atlanta Highways in the past 6 months. Not placing blame on the riders per se, but the author Christoper Seward, just couldn't leave it alone and had to point out all the motorcycle accidents recently. He could have done riders a service by researching how many accidents were caused by blown retreads, but NO! he just stopped at basically pointing out how dangerous motorcycles are. We already know that, how about trying to reduce that number by education and research, not by sensationalizing bike wrecks. Friggin Fish Wraps! That's why I quit reading those POS rags years ago! :angry2amn... I need some coffee... rant off!

 

[BikerGeek99]

Back in '97, my dad, my brother and I rode in a poker run from Miami, FL, to Key West. On our return trip we were on the Florida Turnpike when a dude on a HD Sportster came hauling-ass past us.

A car made a quick lane-change to get out of his way and there was a gator (tire carcass, that is) in the road right in front of him and he hit that thing going at least 85.

My brother and I both went into full avoidance maneuvers, expecting him to be bouncing across the turnpike. The bike was up in the air (I saw light under both tires), and the only parts of the rider touching the bike were his hands on the handlebars.

He landed, bounced once, and somehow kept the bike upright.

And he kept on going. How that man didn't die is still a mystery to me.

 

[RavFJR]

...had a rather large 'tire gator' fly over my head a few months ago. I got home and changed my underwear. I always blast by 18-wheelers now - if traffic permits.

 

[zzzzip]

I have a 'gator bite on my right can under the passenger peg.

 

[Mount Rainier]

I spend a lot of time on slabs predawn and AWAYS look for a cage to lead me along for these very reasons and others. As indicated here, space, (min. of 150/200 yards) between me and the cage is very important. Gives plenty of opportunity to react to brake lights etc. You can’t see gators at night until it’s too late.

On two occasions in WA State, a State Trooper passed me with the lights flashing only to come upon him/her in the act of pulling one of these things out of the traffic lane and on to the said of the interstate. Much appreciated. Somebody had the foresight to call and report it and the WSP responded. Good stuff!

 

[bikerskier]

About 3 weeks ago, i was merging on to I-5 from 217 in PDX with my wife's car and was on the right side of a tractor trailer unit when one of his right rear outside tires blew up. We were about 4' away and exactly even with the rear left door when it blew. ****, this was very loud and chunks of tire slammed against the car with great violence. We pulled over to the breakdown lane and the truck pulled over as well in front of us. The driver apologised mildly and basically said that **** happens all the time and it wasn't his fault. the company that owns the trailer unit (Interstate Dist)is responsible for tire maintenance and for me to call them. I took pics of the trailer, my broken left rear tailight lens and some marks, along with a repair estimate and sent if off to them. They sent me a check (after signing their waiver) within a week. Marianne is now spooked when passing a tractor trailer in the car and is worried what her reaction will be when she next rides pillion. She now understands why I always passed these units very quickly during on all the rides we have made for the past 30+ years. That event would have caused us severe injuries or more if we had been on the bike.

Don't dawdle next to a tractor trailer unit!!!!