... from the side of a white car? Today I was driving to work down the highway at about 60-65 mph, when all of a sudden the car in front of me swerves and a big tire (still on the wheel) flies out from under him at my car, lands on the pavement just in front of me amid a flume of sparks, then just barely bounces to my left into the median and then back into the driver's door and down the side of the car. It missed the cars behind me and somehow no one ran into anyone else ... the guy in front of me pulled to the side with a left-front flat. I cannot for the life of me figure out where the loose tire came from, but it looked like somebody's spare that had fallen into the highway. I have to figure the guy in front of my hit it, causing his flat and causing it to fly back to me. Either that or it was his spare, mounted under the trunk, and he blew a flat, causing it to fly loose (but this was a sedan so I highly doubt his spare would be mounted there). All happened (of course) very fast.

I kept driving because I was in heavy traffic and a mile from work ... I was amazed at the lack of damage when I got out and looked. No dents that I can see or feel, just PEELS of black rubber all down both drivers-side doors. Should I try to compound it off, or is there another approach I should try?

Terrifying stuff ... if that tire had bounced to the right, it would have rolled over the hood and through my windshield. Instead I got a few streaks on my paint. Good deal considering what could have happened.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

This happened to me too, an 18-wheeler ran over a tire that was already on the road and threw it at me. Scratched the paint about five places down the left side of the car and darn near took off the rearview mirror.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Damn, you're lucky. See the thread in OD about a driveshaft going thru a windshield.
I might try some mineral spirits or paint thinner in an unobtrusive spot.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

This is the most compelling reason not to draft semis.

I once was behind one and it ran over a fairly big piece of plywood and lifted it off the pavement. I hit it with my 62 fintail. I pulled over expecting to see a lot of damage to the front of my car but found nothing. I guessed that the edge must have hit the bumper and slid under the car or went to the side.

The tire maybe fell off the bottom of an suv or pt cruiser.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

No! don't use paint thinner! Try goo gone or goo be gone and that should remove it!

First off I'm glad you an Bodhi weren't injured worse. Just recently went through a freeway debris mishap of my own. Happens really quickly. And last week, just an 1/8 of a mile in front of me and little China a Fed Ex 18 wheeler lost its trailer. It actually pretty much stayed in the right lane and slid to a stop, but man was there a lot of smoke!
I can't recommend enough to try lighter fluid to try and remove the marks on Bodhi. It is sooo much better on glue than glue-gone, and just might work on the marks on your car.
Have you snapped any pics? {hint hint}

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

It should rub off. If not try a clay bar from the detailing section of the parts store.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Took a bunch of stuff off side of SDL. Use 3 different buffing pads - one for each step.. Only downside I experienced was that I then had to do the entire car! Took off years of aging on the old girl. Now, can't really use her as a beater .

Regards

Run-Em

__________________
1983 300SD - SPARKY THE DIESEL
2004 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro Roadster
1999 SLK - aka - LIL RED
1956 Chevy Nomad - aka - REAL MAD
1940 Ford dbl dr. Deluxe - aka - ORANGE U GLAD
1998 Kawasaki Nomad bike --

x3. Clay bars are amazing. You can think you've got your car clean as a whistle. Then you clay bar it, and realize it wasn't as clean as you thought. They pull stuff out that is imbedded into the pores of the paint.

Glad you came out of this with nothing worse than tire marks on your car. I worry all the time about hitting stuff (or else being hit by stuff! ) on the highway.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

this reminds me of when the axle came out from under my truck...
I was doing maybe 50 mph on a major highway in charlotte. heavy traffic, and all of a sudden the cars around me backed away. I was just noticing the cars missing when the left side of my astro van dropped about a foot, and I watched my back tire, complete with about 3 feet of axle still attached to it passing me on the left and bouncing toward oncoming traffic... Me picturing the axle slamming through somebody's chest... I attempted to slow down, but of course my brakes were not working properly... with this much of the brake system bouncing down the road. so I ground down from 50 to 0 and maneuvered as best as I could to the side of the road... anyway, the tire/axle bounced up onto the tiny median and headed back toward my side of the road, all traffic behind me stayed there until I and the the wheel stopped. I walked over and picked it up...
I figured the thing was sticking out a foot or two and traffic behind me just waited for it to fail... positraction has it's advantages... this ain't one of them. I wish that as soon as the axle came out of the diff, I would have lost acceleration, and I would have coasted to the side of the road without the axle coming out...
Glad you and bhodi are doing well... don't forget to snap a pic or two for us!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Thanks guys ... I've been meaning to clay bar the whole car someday anyway, so this will be good motivation to go ahead and spend that $20 on a claybar. I will indeed take a couple pics this afternoon. It doesn't look that bad, now that the initial shock is gone ... it kind of looks like every car my mom has driven, i.e., it looks like it's been driven up against a pole or someone's bumper. Poor Bodhi. He was freshly washed and all sparkling before this. Now he has a tattoo.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Don't spend $20 on a claybar, clay is clay. Get the ClayMagic kit for like $11 at Autozoo, actualy get two. You will probably need two bars, use one for down low and one for the higher parts.

I would probably try some 3m Adhesive remover on that black mark.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Clay bars are blu-tak. Nothing special, just make sure you get a bottle of liquid polish to work alongside it.

Clay will do NOTHING to those skid marks...jeez guys.

You need to get some 3M Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound. If you can't find the HD stuff, then Autozone (or was it Kragen?) sells 3M Compound in a bottle that isn't quite as powerful, but should still work. Look for it in the body products section, not where all of the consumer care car crap is. (ie. Meguiar's and Armor-All)

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Pictures, as promised. Not so bad, but you can see the tread patterns if you look closely. I have some 3M rubbing compound that I'll try. I'll let you guys know how it works. I have a feeling elbow grease and patience will be an important ingredient. That and time, which hopefully I'll find tomorrow.

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)