Rock throwing tires...

[joey2cool]

Noticed my stock OEM LT245/75R 16s are picking up a lot of gravel. When the little buggers finally dislodge, they can be like bullets. Got at least one ding on the body underside from a rock coming out of my own van's tires. I've got fender flares, but they aren't shielding everything. The Ford Owners Manual actually says to pick the debris out of your tire tread. That seems like a lot of work and I afraid of cutting into the tire while attempting to dislodge a tiny rock. Are there other thoughts on this? Will the problem take care of itself with time and tire wear?

[Ford_6L_E350]

It can get worse!

While driving in Alaska, on an empty road with no other vehicles around, we had a rock hit the windshield. I figured it must have been a hidden kid throwing rocks. Later, I saw a rock flying forward, catch the air and come up and back into the windshield. We had thrown a rock into our own windshield!!!!

I mounted the lower, plastic valence from a stock bumper onto my Warn bumper to prevent this from happening again.

We also have mudflaps to prevent debris being thrown up against the body.

Mike

[Silver350]

Just use a flat screwdriver , it is duller than the rocks you are picking out.

That is the second biggest reason I won't buy a new vehicle. Door dings, scratches and rock chips don't seem to hurt as much on a used one.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

It can get worse!

I saw a rock flying forward, catch the air and come up and back into the windshield. We had thrown a rock into our own windshield!!!!
.

Mike

Mike, I've had that happen several times myself, but it never caused any glass damage. Strange to see the rock jump forward so slow then hit the ground and come back at such a high speed.

[charlie56]

Off topic Alert

Back in the '70's I drove the Alcan Highway. It was all (2,000+- miles) of gravel then. A cloud of moving gravel seemed to follow you everywhere. Went through a couple headlights, and cracked the windshield. But the biggest problem came with gravel pelting the fuel tank and cracking it. The best emergency fix? Carry a bar of soap with you. Rub it hard into the crack and you are good to go for a few hundred miles. Best prevention, a sacrificial skid plate. Maybe I should heed my own advice. Naw...

[joey2cool]

Ok, I'll admit I broke down and went out there last weekend to pick out those rocks with a pair of needle nose pliers. Got one handful of pebbles from each tire - and some peace of mind. Took me 15 minutes.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

It can get worse!

While driving in Alaska, on an empty road with no other vehicles around, we had a rock hit the windshield. I figured it must have been a hidden kid throwing rocks. Later, I saw a rock flying forward, catch the air and come up and back into the windshield. We had thrown a rock into our own windshield!!!!

Mike

Atta boy Mike!
Well folks, on the way back from Zion I was tellin my buddy Don about Mike's ordeal in Alaska and seconds later the front tire threw a rock then it flew back and hit the windshield. Couldn't believe it! It didn't do anything and I had to laugh but about 2 minutes later here come a truck and whack...broken windshield It made a big chip but no crack. Yesterday I called a guy who does those chip repairs. I had the lucky kind of chip from what he said. After the repair the point was made that it's still possible the windshield will go. Apparently vans have some of the largest windshields and they tweak with the body, so it's easy for the repair to fail if you don't stay on smooth level roads He also suggested that if the chip runs that I stay with a Ford windshield because of flexing but suggested the 30 dollar fix over a 300+ dollar windshield. Just wish the repair wasn't right in my line of site. So far so good...just have to see how long it lasts.

[Rockman]

My van currently has 285/75r17 Mickey Thompson Bajas and I have never had tires this poor. My bottom panels are speckled with paint chips, and I have to have it repainted.

Rumble strips are quite effective to keep tailgaters at bay though. They dislodge them quite well at 65mph