TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Changing seasons and temperatures increase the chances of encountering a common and dangerous form of road debris that could leave your vehicle stranded on the side of the highway.
Drivers on Kansas’ highways have probably dodged or hit the remains of a tire blowout at one point or another while traveling across the state. Referred to as “tire gators,” these chunks of rubber left on the state’s highways can seriously damage your vehicle.
KSNT News spoke with Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner, who is raising awareness on the issue and sharing some helpful tips on how to deal with it. He said troopers encounter tire gators daily while patrolling the highways, and they are a constant issue.
“It’s our job to make sure the roadway is safe,” Gardner said. “Another thing is to make sure the roadway is free of hazards or other concerns.”
KHP troopers will remove the remains of tire blowouts, along with other debris, such as animal remains or other things left on the road, as part of their normal duties.
Gardner said tire gators are usually seen as temperatures move from hot to cold or from cold to hot each year. The wild variations in temperatures can cause the material in tires to weaken and become more vulnerable to blowouts.
“Tires will start to fail more,” Gardner said. “Tire gators as we call them.”
The American Automobile Association (AAA) warns drivers on its website that extreme heat or cold can take a toll on the health of your tires. Falling temperatures can cause your tires to lose pressure while rising heat can cause the PSI in your tires to increase.
“We may already realize tires lose pressure when temperatures drop, but the opposite is also true. Indeed, for every 10-degree rise in the temperature, tire pressure will increase by 1 PSI. During a heat wave, your tire pressure may increase by 5 PSI, which can make them overinflated.”
AAA website excerpt
Gardner said wildly changing temperatures can impact a range of tires, leading to increased fatigue and eventual failure. One of the main issues with this is people not trading out old tires when they should.
“They’re getting as much life as they can out of these tires, and that life might be when it fails,” Gardner said.
Insurance company Allstate also attributes tire blowouts to a mix of underinflated tires and high speeds. Drivers are encouraged to air up their tires to the right PSI before hitting the road to avoid possible blowouts.
Gardner said tire gators can get “wrapped up underneath” your vehicle, becoming entangled with equipment and causing damage. Striking one with your tire could cause your own tire to suffer a blowout as well.
“It could be a couple hundred or a couple thousand [dollars] in damage,” Gardner said. “In today’s world, repairs are not cheap.”
Gardner recommends that people increase their following distance on the highway, change lanes safely to avoid a tire gator when possible, and contact the KHP about the debris. Troopers can be reached by dialing *47 if you need help or if you want to report debris on the highway.
“We’ll see people strike one because they’re following too close,” Gardner said.
Drivers will also need to watch for KHP troopers, deputies or other emergency personnel working on the highway or trying to remove debris. If you see a trooper or other first responder on or near the highway, remember to slow down.
People who want to be more proactive about helping keep the state’s highways clear of debris can also sign up for the Kansas Department of Transportation’s “Adopt-A-Highway” program. You can learn more about this program and how to help keep the state’s highways clean by clicking here. For tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on tire care, click here.