So yesterday I was driving my bike back on the highway from a meeting heading back to my office. I was running about 85 Mph coming up on a trailer truck when all of a sudden the tire on the truck exploded and started throwing rubber everywhere!!!! Holy crap! I got on the brakes keeping in check with the cars around me. I had to swerve some and sneak behind a car then started to pull out from behind the car and just then a another strip ripped off and I had to duck to miss it….Holy shit it was like driving through and asteroid storm!!! LOL I made it threw and was so pumped I had to rip her up to a quick 140 Mph!!! Has anyone ever had tis happen?

* Last updated by: Somefun on 5/8/2012 @ 3:34 AM *

Never had one blow right in front of me, but I heard one blow in the opposite lane across the median. Sounded like a shotgun blast. I have dodged a ton of "road gators" and spend as little time as possible behind an 18-wheeler. There should be a law prohibiting recapping big truck tires.

Ditto, I spend as little time beside or behind an 18 wheeler and won't ride at night because of the inability to see the road gators and take evasive action. A friend of a friend hit one at night on the Expressway at 140, that was all she wrote.

I'm just glad you survived that experience!

I had the same thing happen last year on I-80 on my way to Sturgis I had to swerve to miss one piece flying at me that would have hit me center chest and duck another that would have hit the top of my helmet.

Has anyone ever had tis happen?

Hell NO!

Glad you're okay.

I thought this thread was about a sale on tires LOL

Stay away from Trucks as much as possible!!!! They are inherently dangerous for any other smaller vehicle around them! I preach this to my wife at every opportunity. IF you need to pass one, do it quickly and don't linger alongside or behind at all. One of those gators can take out a windshield and end up in your lap driving a cage, or worse, the driver may not see you (if you can't see his face in the mirror, then he CANNOT see you!!!) and move into your lane unexpectly and very quickly! At an average of 80,000 lbs, he won't even realize that he's smeared you all over the road until someone miles down the road flags him down!! And gators come from ALL truck tires not just re-treads, truck tires disentergrate beacuse of improper inflation, extreme wear and any number of reasons. Speaking from 16 years in the business... Hasn't happened to me yet on a bike, mostly because I follow what I preach - STAY AWAY FROM TRUCKS!!! That being said - GLAD you made it thru it!!!!

* Last updated by: bigwilliezx on 5/8/2012 @ 12:13 PM *

yeah it was a crazy ride for sure....I'm heading to GA, NC, and TN on the bike next week with a buddy that rides a busa for a 2600 mile ride! I'm glad it didn't mess that up for me! LOL Once we get past NJ the riding is Great!!!! Cheers guys!

* Last updated by: Somefun on 5/8/2012 @ 12:21 PM *

Yeah I had a big piece hit my front tire fender and crack it. Another day, I was riding at night and I saw the car in front of me dodging something so I was searching for it, next thing you know there is a big piece in front of me, I was able to swerve just in time! The car should/could have gone over it easy, the driver was probably looking out for me! No more riding at night for me, unless I absolutely have to. It's time I get some xenon bulb by the way!

* Last updated by: dragking on 5/9/2012 @ 10:47 AM *

Glad your ok!!!

Glad your ok!!!

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+1

Man glad your ok,what a freak but not uncommon.I was a driver and a mechanic.I was driving through Roanoke,Va and I was in the fast lane.I looked to my left and a set of trailer duals were bouncing across the medium strp.They were bouncing like a basketball!These things are heavy.I could see the spacer hanging off the spacer.I downshifted to 9th and put the hammer dowm.All I could think was if they jumped up I'd have to dive on the floor and hope for the best.I had my seatbelt off at this point.What a rush.The wheels ended up in the medium setting the grass on fire.
Craig

As a Ex-trucker those gators piss Me off!!!
Most all are from drivers not checking tire psi. The low psi tire overheats and BOOM!! Ever notice the cords sticking out from them? Thats a blow out, not a recap coming apart. And its rarely from a tire going flat while traveling. Truck tires run 100 psi average and the lazy drivers think that 'thumping' them is enough. I challenged other drivers to find a 20 psi under inflated tire on my rig. Only 1 out of roughly 20 did.
And yes a partner and I had it happen to us while riding together to Cali back in the 70's. He was in front of Me and to this day we both swear the carcass wrapped around his helmet without touching him. I ran it over on a Kawi 400 2 stroke triple. I dont know how I didnt wreck or why his head is still on!

The advice of holding back to pass quickly is very good. While you are behind a truck make sure you can see the driver in his mirrors. That way He can see you. He might not 'notice' you but at least he can...,
As far as night riding, adjust your headlights and NEVER overdrive them. I 'found' a deer hiding in the dark on that 400 like that....,it was ugly. But dont worry, the bike survived.

I am seeing a lot of tire junk laying about too. It usually ends up at the road side but you never know-

Riding across the country on I80 it gets hard to avoid being around trucks but I don't linger next to them.