Tip of the day

[zoom45]

Tip of the day... Stay away from big trucks. I was on the way home today and was just starting to merge on to the interstate. I saw a big FEDEX truck with the double trailers coming so instead of speeding up I slowed a little to let him go by before I pulled out on the interstate. Good choice because soon as he came by it sounded like a bomb went off. One of the tires on the first trailer exploded and chunks of rubber were flying everywhere. I had stayed in the merge lane and wound up riding on the shoulder to stay away from it. I got hit by a small piece but if I had stayed my course I would have been right beside the tire that exploded. I try to never ride beside or behind a big truck because you can't see around them, they can't see you and things can fall off them. Alway keep your distance from the trucks.
Zoom45

[Loafer]

Glad you did the right thing, and didn't get hurt. Good reminder for everyone.

[Cajunrider]

When those tires blow they definitely go with a bang. A year or so back, one blew a tire on the opposite side of the median on I-20 around Shreveport. It scared the heck out of both of us and chunks of rubber flew everywhere, even on the median at least 20 ft away from the truck. A large piece would be deadly. Thanks for the tip and glad you made the decision to lag back.

[jesse]

Glad you weren't in harms way. My daughter and I were riding together when we came up on a truck and the tires were making that thumping noise. I told her the tire was about to blow and we backed off a good ways. Sure enough about a mile down the road it came apart and went every where.
Stay back or get around, don't ride beside one!

[cajun2wheels]

That is a good life saving tip.I never travel behind big trucks because I can't see what's going on down the road.I haven't had a speeding ticket in 40 years but if I get one it will be because I was speeding around a big truck.

[oldbikers]

I hate to pass a big truck so when I do I am like cajun2wheels I go around him like a bat out of hell.
By the way cajun2wheels I want that trike in your sig.

[scott2007nomad]

My motto: the safest place is in front.

[cajun2wheels]

Originally Posted by oldbikers

I hate to pass a big truck so when I do I am like cajun2wheels I go around him like a bat out of hell.
By the way cajun2wheels I want that trike in your sig.

I can't depart with the trike.I would have go to the woods to take care of business.

[bobhamlin]

Two years ago, I was trailing an 18-wheeler in an adjacent lane. The noise IS an EXPLOSION!

Luckily I ran over the small bits of tire.

Thanks for the reminder.

[usranger74]

Twice in my ridding career I have had a car that just passed me blow a tire. I have developed the habit of taking a quick look at right side tires when being passed when on my bike or in my car.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Good tip Bobby and glad you played it safe. There have been people in cars killed when huge hunks of rubber come flying at them. Recaps on trailers should be against the law. They can't have them on the cab but can on trailers. That is a law that needs changing. It wouldn't prevent those things blowing but it would prevent a lot of them from happening.

Bobby, I am the same way as you about the big trucks. I look at the big pieces of tires along the side of the road with shreded steel sticking out , and often think that if some of that hits me, it's gonna cut me in half. Also when I am behind one, I try to ride in line with their rear wheels, and not in the center, in case they run over something big, I can avoid it. Keeping more than a safe distance behind them is good too.

[unwind2]

Ditto what cajun2wheel said....and painless...as a bicylist I can tell you those little shreds of tires can cut up a bicycle tire in nothing flat.......(nothing flat, flat tire get it - LOL).