Well I'm pissed!

[Trmx2]

Originally Posted by Wise

I try to avoid freeway driving when possible and when I have to I stay a lane clear of the big trucks.

Unfortunately, my daily commute forces me to use the highway. I do too, I typically stay in the left lane and I try to stick 5-6 car lengths of distance if I can...lol I know it annoys some people but idgaf!

Originally Posted by mav1178

I destroyed this in Jackson WY a few months ago. Just got home, ordered a new one, installed it.

Guess it didn't bother me as much.

-alex

Where'd you order it from? I want a new one just because...there is a hole in this one now.

[Whitigir]

Originally Posted by Trmx2

This will probably seem insignificant to many but I'm pretty pissed after my drive to work today...

I was driving on the freeway going to work this morning and traffic was atrocious as usual...

Coming off one of the exit ramps I ran over something and heard it loudly smack my passenger side wheel well/under carriage. I immediately got nervous hoping I didn't scratch or dent anything since my car is brand new and I baby the shit out of it...

I pull over at the closest gas station and as I'm going up the small ramped entrance I heard a scrrraaaappppeeee loudly on my undercarriage. My car is stock height and the ramp was not that steep so it couldn't have been my actual car. I immidiately feared that part of my front bumper was scraped or something...

As I get out to inspect the damage I notice a 2 foot chunk of wood speared through the little rubber thing by the rear tire (the thing I guess where the mud-guards attach) I know that you don't normally see this part at all and it's a pretty unimportant piece of the vehicle but I'm pissed that the piece of wood shot itself through that little rubber piece.

It was actually lodged halfway into that and into my tire, but did no damage to the tire at all, thankfully.

That's my rant for the day, don't flame me for overracting lol

You better be safe than sorry, and get that tire replaced. Any type of puncture to the tire will have the potential to bring disaster. Imagine you going down the Highway, ran over a bumb or a rock, your Tire goes KABOOM....you lose control, and...imagine next.

Spend couple hundred bucks and swap it.

Originally Posted by Trmx2

Unfortunately, my daily commute forces me to use the highway. I do too, I typically stay in the left lane and I try to stick 5-6 car lengths of distance if I can...lol I know it annoys some people but idgaf!

It is always safe measures to keep distance, every 10 mph increment over 20 mph is 1 car length. If you are driving 65 mph, that is at least 4 cars length for Safety. Other people drive stupid, but as a driver, you have the option to drive at the best safety measure as possible.

Another thing to keep in mind also is to never follow too closely to a big Truck, SUV, as they block your view.

Never drive beside a Truck or 18 wheeler. Those may trip and fall over on your car. Never cut them either, or any other cars for the matter.

Always pay attention to the Road condition. Some roads are Flatter, Smoother, you easily lose friction when Wet, or Cold. Winter day may look Sunny, but if it is Freezing Cold, expect "Black Ice" Those are Melted Snow, but Froze over by the Cold. You will lose control of the vehicle. The best possible way in this condition is to follow other cars Trails, as it got run over, the ice wont be as bad, or may be gone.

I can't say enough, but always be safe.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Trmx2

Where'd you order it from? I want a new one just because...there is a hole in this one now.

A Subaru dealer. But I'm sure you can also find it at a Scion dealer...

-alex

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

You better be safe than sorry, and get that tire replaced. Any type of puncture to the tire will have the potential to bring disaster. Imagine you going down the Highway, ran over a bumb or a rock, your Tire goes KABOOM....you lose control, and...imagine next.

Spend couple hundred bucks and swap it.

If there's no visible damage to the tire, it's likely fine, and this would be a waste of money. Most of the energy in the impact went into the tire guard, not the tire, and the tread area of a modern tire is extremely strong.

Originally Posted by Whitigir

It is always safe measures to keep distance, every 10 mph increment over 20 mph is 1 car length. If you are driving 65 mph, that is at least 4 cars length for Safety. Other people drive stupid, but as a driver, you have the option to drive at the best safety measure as possible.

4 car lengths is awfully close at 65mph, and I'd really want to be farther away than that. You sometimes don't have much choice, if traffic is heavy, but if possible, I'd stay back about 2 seconds from the car in front of me (about 200 ft at 60mph).

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Another thing to keep in mind also is to never follow too closely to a big Truck, SUV, as they block your view.

More importantly, if you're following too close to a semi, they can't see you. If you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you.

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Never drive beside a Truck or 18 wheeler. Those may trip and fall over on your car. Never cut them either, or any other cars for the matter.

Trip?

(It's a good idea not to cut people off though)

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Always pay attention to the Road condition. Some roads are Flatter, Smoother, you easily lose friction when Wet, or Cold. Winter day may look Sunny, but if it is Freezing Cold, expect "Black Ice" Those are Melted Snow, but Froze over by the Cold. You will lose control of the vehicle. The best possible way in this condition is to follow other cars Trails, as it got run over, the ice wont be as bad, or may be gone.

I can't say enough, but always be safe.

This is true. More than once, I've been surprised by how slippery a road can be if its cold. I've driven on roads which looked only very slightly damp, but where I had next to zero traction (it was around 15F at the time though, so they were actually covered in ice).

Another thing to be aware of if you're running snow tires: dedicated snow/ice tires (such as the Blizzak WS70 that I use) have much, much better traction on ice than pretty much any all-season tires out there. As a result, if you have snow tires on your car, pay attention to the car behind you when stopping on slippery surfaces - it is very easy to get rear-ended when you're running snow tires because you have much better traction than most people on the road. Yes, it would still be their fault if they hit you, since they were following too close, but it's still better to avoid this situation if possible.

[Whitigir]

What I mean "Trip" = They may fall on to your car. You never heard of such cases have you ? The curves, or a blown tire, or gust of wind, all make it become reality.

At least 4 car length is the least you want to keep. You will be surprised to see how close people tail gate you at HW speed

[ZionsWrath]

Tip*

As in, "just the tip, I promise"

[Trmx2]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

You better be safe than sorry, and get that tire replaced. Any type of puncture to the tire will have the potential to bring disaster. Imagine you going down the Highway, ran over a bumb or a rock, your Tire goes KABOOM....you lose control, and...imagine next.

Spend couple hundred bucks and swap it.




It is always safe measures to keep distance, every 10 mph increment over 20 mph is 1 car length. If you are driving 65 mph, that is at least 4 cars length for Safety. Other people drive stupid, but as a driver, you have the option to drive at the best safety measure as possible.

Another thing to keep in mind also is to never follow too closely to a big Truck, SUV, as they block your view.

Never drive beside a Truck or 18 wheeler. Those may trip and fall over on your car. Never cut them either, or any other cars for the matter.

Always pay attention to the Road condition. Some roads are Flatter, Smoother, you easily lose friction when Wet, or Cold. Winter day may look Sunny, but if it is Freezing Cold, expect "Black Ice" Those are Melted Snow, but Froze over by the Cold. You will lose control of the vehicle. The best possible way in this condition is to follow other cars Trails, as it got run over, the ice wont be as bad, or may be gone.

I can't say enough, but always be safe.

Actually, it didn't impact the tire at all, the stick got lodged into the small rubber flap and just wedged itself into the tread not the actual tire, there is no puncture or even mark on the tire.

You seem like a very safe driver, thank you for all the tips. I try to avoid being even close to semi-trucks at all costs.