Tires Can Explode While Being Refilled if Not Maintained

[Robert59]

The next time your tire goes flat, you might want to proceed with caution if you're filling it with air. It’s a rare occurrence, but under certain circumstances, a car tire can suddenly explode, leading to devastating consequences. Every year, dozens of people are seriously injured, or in some instances, killed, while filling their tires with air. Adam Sproul, 28, suffered a traumatic brain injury and his friend was killed when they were putting air in a tire at a New Hampshire repair shop.

 

[WhatInThe]

I always try to use a gauge and am constantly looking for cracking which is a sign the rubber is failing. Also completely flat tires without a puncture could be a bad valve in which case will surge in depending on how bad.

I've too many stories of failing exploding tires while driving let alone filling. My guess the tire had signs of defects or fatigue/wear prior.

 

[Becky1951]

I remember when I was about 10 years old, we stopped to get gas and the fired department and an ambulance was there at gas station.

A man had been airing his tires and his truck had split rims, it exploded and the rim took the top of his head off. The fired department was hosing down the area, brain matter. My dad had split rims, he changed them asap.

 

[old medic]

Like Becky mentioned..... Split rims.... most of the videos shown appeared to be split rim truck tires...
Having worked in several tire shops years ago I have personal experience with them... yes they will rock you.
Have also responded to a fatality from one a few years back.

 

[JonDouglas]

I remember when I was about 10 years old, we stopped to get gas and the fired department and an ambulance was there at gas station.

A man had been airing his tires and his truck had split rims, it exploded and the rim took the top of his head off. The fired department was hosing down the area, brain matter. My dad had split rims, he changed them asap.

I was witness to an accident on the interstate where a truck tire seemed to explode and take out the cab of a truck he was passing, killing the driver and causing an accident that spilled a lot of fuel. I always wondered if the trucker with the bad tire was running on illegal split rims. The memory of that always makes me want to not linger beside a semi when one of us is passing the other, especially when I am riding the GS.