Always carry a valid spare tire and tools to change it.

[WinterDeere]

I blew a tire...on the side if I-95 in Bangor Maine. glad it was passenger side that blew.

...cars could be whizzing past...

A family friend was killed while changing a tire on the side of an interstate many years ago. The story I remember was that he was down on his haunches while mounting the spare, when the combination of wind shear followed by suction created by a semi passing very close to him at 70 mph pulled him under the semi trailer. He was likely precariously balanced, as many of us may be when lifting a spare onto a hub, and the rush of air of the passing truck was just enough to disturb his balance. In any case, the rear trucks of the semi trailer rolled over him, total road pizza scenario.

Another acquaintance was hit and killed while sitting on the side of the road in a stalled car, waiting for AAA. Ever since then, I won't work or sit in any car on the traffic side of a guard rail. Even if you're riding on rim, get to the closest safe pull-off, before dealing with any failure.

Or the stupid run flats.

What's stupid about a run flat tire? Great way to save your rim if you have a tire failure on the highway, and need to limp it to the next exit.

 

[RammerJammer]

A family friend was killed while changing a tire on the side of an interstate many years ago. The story I remember was that he was down on his haunches while mounting the spare, when the combination of wind shear followed by suction created by a semi passing very close to him at 70 mph pulled him under the semi trailer. He was likely precariously balanced, as many of us may be when lifting a spare onto a hub, and the rush of air of the passing truck was just enough to disturb his balance. In any case, the rear trucks of the semi trailer rolled over him, total road pizza scenario.

Another acquaintance was hit and killed while sitting on the side of the road in a stalled car, waiting for AAA. Ever since then, I won't work or sit in any car on the traffic side of a guard rail. Even if you're riding on rim, get to the closest safe pull-off, before dealing with any failure.


What's stupid about a run flat tire? Great way to save your rim if you have a tire failure on the highway, and need to limp it to the next exit.

Speaking of stopping on such roads/shoulders:

Given the number of videos we see of police officers and motorists being hit, by all sorts of vehicles, while stopped on the side of the road, why do people stop there? And, why don't police agencies get together to make it standard operating procedure to go to the next exit, or pull-off, during traffic stops?

Many roads have signs: "No Stopping Except for Emergencies"

A traffic stop ain't an emergency!!

I've heard enough scanner traffic to know that some officers get annoyed when a driver doesn't pull-over immediately. Being annoyed generally means you're still alive. And, I will remind them of same if I ever get the opportunity.

 

[bigtiller]

A traffic stop ain't an emergency!!

I've heard enough scanner traffic to know that some officers get annoyed when a driver doesn't pull-over immediately. Being annoyed generally means you're still alive. And, I will remind them of same if I ever get the opportunity.

It might be fun to ruffle his feathers but I doubt anything good will happen next. It may get a similar reaction as shouting, GUN.

 

[WinterDeere]

If I ever get pulled over on an expressway, I’d probably open the conversation with, “would you like me to proceed to the next exit or pull-off, so we can both be safely away from the traffic speeding by?”

 

[Jstpssng]

Last time it was because the 4 way he had didn't actually fit the lug nuts on his car.

That was me about 40 years ago. When I was issued the truck I checked to make sure that it had a tire iron... I didn't check to make sure that it fit. I had also gotten out of the habit of throwing my personal toolbox with the 1/2 inch sockets and breaker bar... it was just a PITA as I never used it.
We were about 70 miles into the woods when we had a flat, and waited a LONG time for someone to come along with the right sized tire iron. I drove to town that night and bought a 4-way.

I blew a tire with 16K lbs inside a dual ram 7x14 Cam dump trailer. very glad I insisted company I worked for provided a spare and used my bottle jack and tools to change. on the side if I-95 in Bangor Maine. glad it was passenger side that blew.

I had a brake caliper seize up at about mile 220North on I-95 last month... the speed limit there is 75 so most people were doing 80-90+. When the ramp truck got there I was way down into the grass as I got tired of being rocked by the traffic... I thought he might be a little POed but instead he thanked me for getting it off the road. They don't like working that close to the travel lane.

 

[JasperFrank]

I was a bit pissed off at Hyundai, for doing the no spare thingy. They wanted 450 dollars to put that in. It wasn't my call, as it was the wife buying and she made a good deal. Assembled a real tire and kit for $120.

 

[duramaxsky]

A family friend was killed while changing a tire on the side of an interstate many years ago. The story I remember was that he was down on his haunches while mounting the spare, when the combination of wind shear followed by suction created by a semi passing very close to him at 70 mph pulled him under the semi trailer. He was likely precariously balanced, as many of us may be when lifting a spare onto a hub, and the rush of air of the passing truck was just enough to disturb his balance. In any case, the rear trucks of the semi trailer rolled over him, total road pizza scenario.

Another acquaintance was hit and killed while sitting on the side of the road in a stalled car, waiting for AAA. Ever since then, I won't work or sit in any car on the traffic side of a guard rail. Even if you're riding on rim, get to the closest safe pull-off, before dealing with any failure.


What's stupid about a run flat tire? Great way to save your rim if you have a tire failure on the highway, and need to limp it to the next exit.

Harsh ride lousy traction and very noisy. They suck. I took them off both of my Vettes. A base C6 Vette will run a 1 second quicker quarter mile just from that. I can go full throttle at about 5 MPH in mine now. Used to have to be going at least 30 with the run flats. They are way too stiff.

 

[oosik]

I DEFINITELY knocked on wood - before this statement. Been driving 65 years and have NEVER had a flat tire on a vehicle I own and maintain. 1982 - we were permanently leaving Alaska. Pulling a U-Haul double axle trailer.

Got a flat. Since it was U-Haul policy - "no spare provided - just give us a call". I pulled that damn trailer with the flat - 117 miles to Haines Junction before it could be repaired. The tire - obviously - long gone. I was just glad the rim held up so well. 117 miles of gravel road did wonders for that rim.

 

[oosik]

Add to this U-Haul flat story. We were booked on the Alaska Marine Highway System. Had less than 18 hours to make it to Haines. Service station in Haines Junction had no idea about what to do with this situation. I didn't give a damn about proper tire size, etc. He just put a rim and tire on that fit and off we went. I dealt with U-Haul when we finally got to Omak.

 

[WinterDeere]

Maybe all this chatter of roadside accidents has affected my YouTube feed.