Driving on gravel roads or parking on gravel pads?

[TitanMike]

If you drive down gravel roads or park on crushed gravel pads here's a suggestion that could prevent a tire failure.

Add an old "scratch awl" or similar pointed tool that is pretty rigid to your essential travel tools. Also a piece of chalk or lumber crayon.

When getting ready to hit the open road (high speed paved roads) take some time to check the tire treads for trapped pieces of crushed rock that can work it''s way right into the tire and cause a leak. Depending on the type of rock that was crushed, you can have pieces that look like miniature arrow heads with a sharp, pointed end. If it gets trapped in the tire tread, point first, as you drive down the highway they don't always get flung out. In many cases they keep getting pounded into the tire until they get to the air chamber and by the time you realize that the tire's flat (TPMS equipped excepted) pieces of your tire are spread over several miles.

Checking for rocks like these is pretty easy. Draw a chalk mark on the edge of the tire next to the ground. Check all the tire you can see for any rocks trapped in the tread and with the awl (or whatever pointed tool you choose) lift the rock out of the tread. When all visible tire has been checked, pull forward until the chalk mark is up at the top. Repeat for the portion that was hidden on the ground during the first run.

It may seem like a bother, stopping after you leave the gravel (pad or road) but compared to a flat/destroyed tire??? Choice is yours.

FWIW, Tow Vehicle tires are designed to resist pieces of gravel getting stuck in the tread by design. Maybe not small pieces but certainly the larger ones that are more problematic. Trailer tires are designed to be driven on paved roads and are a lot more prone to penetration by sharp rocks. Maybe that's why there are so many complaints about various trailer tire brands beyond other abuse like overloading and over-speeding.

Just a tip on how to control one of the failure causes that is probably overlooked by many.

[Bacchus]

Good advice and naps are always acceptable any time of day!