The Tire-Shredding Curbs Of Tulsa

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
10/10/2015 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

I visited Tulsa recently and discovered something there of note: The curbs of the freeway on and off-ramps are constructed for the sole purpose of shredding tires. Guess how I learned?

The Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa invited me to speak after a showing of the documentary “Red Metal,” - a film I am in and one which features a song by Woody Guthrie called “1913 Massacre.” Having never been to Tulsa, I thought it would be a fun little trip. I flew out and rented a car.

I did some sightseeing the day before the showing and as I headed back to my hotel, I drove down a freeway and then took an exit ramp to get to the surface street. As I maneuvered the curve, I watched a car behind me which was a bit too close and then I saw a shredded tire in the middle of the lane in front of me.

There was a fraction of a second to decide: Which way to go around the shredded tire? I didn’t want to run it over. With my luck, it would hit something underneath the car and leave me with a problem when I returned the car on Monday morning. So, I went right. I miscalculated by a fraction and put my front right tire on the shoulder of the road.

Anywhere else on the paved Earth - for the most part - this would have been no problem. In Michigan, you’d still be on a paved shoulder most likely. But in Tulsa? The tire goes over a jagged edge of concrete designed to shred tires. When the tire went off the edge, I had a fraction of a second to react. Do I go all the way off the road, putting all four tires off the edge of the pavement? Or do I turn the wheel and try to bring the one tire back onto the pavement?

Keep in mind that I had not yet noticed how the pavement was designed so carefully to do nothing but mulch tires. If I went off the pavement entirely I would have needed to slow down so as to not hit some of the obstacles there, and risked being rear-ended by the person behind me. And, as you can see in the picture above, the shoulder was covered in gravel and would not have lent itself to a quick stop.

I turned the wheel to the left, hoping to get the tire back on the pavement. And in that split-second I felt and heard the tire being gnawed to smithereens.

I steered all the way off the road and stopped the car, hoping to mitigate my damages. I got out and looked at the flattened tire. The other three were fine but the front right was off the rim and clearly flat.

The rental car company summoned a wrecker. I asked the driver about the sharp edge of the pavement. Why on Earth was it like that? “Keeps me in business,” he laughed. I told him this had to happen all the time, maybe even once a week at this spot. “Try once a day,” he corrected me.

The following day I found out that there are tire repair places open on Sunday, even in a town where half the radio stations play Christian rock 24 hours a day. And when I saw the sidewall in the harsh light of day I was still shocked by how much damage had happened in such a short time. The counter guy wasn’t. And neither was the guy who mounted the new tire for me. “We see it all the time,” one of them said.

This was only the second time in my life a flat has been caused on one of my cars by something other than a nail or a screw and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I wasn’t even driving. I’ve been driving since 1977. So, Oklahomans: What gives? What purpose do these killer-curbs serve other than to keep your tow truck drivers and tire sellers in business?

Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Hear my podcast on iTunes: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 24 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! He wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

DISCUSSION (100)

Tohru > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 09:10

Geez Steve, you tore the hell out of that tire. In hindsight, I think the gravel would’ve been a better choice.

SteveLehto > Tohru
10/10/2015 at 09:10

Obviously. But if you have never seen those curbs, you wouldn’t know that in the split second you have to make the decision.

desertdog5051 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 09:38

It will happen to everybody “Sooner” or later.

Yeah, I was just leaving.

CB > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 09:46

Clearly this is a conspiracy backed by the evil tire conglomerates.

SteveLehto > CB
10/10/2015 at 09:52

Clearly.

Justin Hughes > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 10:00

Apparently “Tulsa Time” is a day late after your shredded tire gets fixed.

Leon711 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 10:01

That’s just nasty.

I can’t believe they sell a Focus Sedan.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 10:08

Ugh... Sorry this happened to you. Oklahoma is not known for its quality infrastructure.

SteveLehto > Leon711
10/10/2015 at 10:11

Hey, it’s a rental. And I always try to rent American.

Leon711 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 12:05

Perhaps it’s my euro heritage but sedan versions of hatches always look a bit well, off. The Fiesta is worse than the Focus, the high belt line just makes it look awkward.

Renting American is admirable, Rental companies over here don’t stock the local produce, something about not being practical.

Kinja'd!!!

SteveLehto > Leon711
10/10/2015 at 12:14

I am one of the old-schoolers when it comes to car manufactury. I have never owned a foreign car and I might never own one. When I get silly rich, I’ll just buy a classic Hemi or maybe a Viper.

Leon711 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 12:29

The typical price point is too high for a British car built by a British owned company. On the other hand, if expanded it to just British built, I could be in all manner of Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, along with the usual British names.

Fun fact, Nissans Sunderland plant in North East England produces more cars per year than all of Italy.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 12:59

There are many things I don’t like about the roads in my state (fuck you, 405), but I am grateful for our fully paved and flushed shoulders.

Jake Kirn > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:30

Kinja'd!!!

That is such a nice color.

DodgeyRammer > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:36

Used to live in broken arrow. Never had that problem, maybe its because i drive a truck, maybe its because i drive on the road. That being said if you head east there are some back roads that look like they were paved in the 1800s...

atfsgeoff > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:37

Having encountered these kinds of highway curbs before, they are a killer. The only way to successfully hop them is to cut onto the pavement at a very aggressive angle. This is easy when going slowly (under 10mph), but at highway speed, you have to literally yank the wheel as quickly as possible, so you get as much of the tread as possible to strike the curb instead of the sidewall. Then you have to immediately and violently countersteer or risk going into another lane. It’s scary but it can be done.

SteveLehto > atfsgeoff
10/10/2015 at 15:38

Now you tell me!

Viggen > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:39

Kinja'd!!!

Continentals, that’s your problem!

Urambo Tauro > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:41

This is exactly why I have a hard time believing Initial D ’s “ gutter run ”. Fujiwara Takumi, I’d like to introduce you to Pennywise.

Kinja'd!!!

Toodles80 > Urambo Tauro
10/10/2015 at 15:53

I see you have decided that I shouldn’t be allowed to sleep for a week... thanks for that.

wheelguy > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 15:58

Don’t text in Tulsa!!

Ltd783 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:03

Tulsan here. Where was this exactly, could I ask?

Surface streets in Tulsa are notoriously a political football that never really seems to go anywhere. Every politician would rather be able to say “If we have money for X, then why are the street so bad!”, though I imagine this is true in a lot of cities.

Some of the older parts of town have 4 lane roads with outside lanes that are about a foot narrower than they should be, right up to a curb. The killer is random sewer grates that are now about 8 in below road level, thanks to years of patching and relayering, and right where your outside tire is forced to go.

EDIT:, Nevermind, noticed where you were in the main photo. Weird, that far SW is all fairly new construction, that whole shopping center behind you has only existed for about 5 years. Must have been an old semi-rural 2 lane road off of Highway 75 that you were on.

Maxxuman > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:04

Kinja'd!!!

This car looks twisted - the left looks taller than the right. Presumably it’s some weird lens distortion, unless it’s a Lemon.

JBB47 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:05

Wow...seem like work of lawyers ! That is a trap, it is dangerous, it is far too unusual to fall into “knew or should have known” about tire shredding curbs.

SteveLehto > Maxxuman
10/10/2015 at 16:06

Or a flat right tire, parked on a slant?

ben loves his new "real" SUV > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:07

Kinja'd!!!

I’m going to go out on a limb and say the car looks taller on the left because the shredded tires that are the subject of this story are on the right...

Maxxuman > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:11

That still shouldn’t twist the car to the extent that the rear bumper appears horizontal while the top of the trunk lid leans down towards the right, and the right hand taillight is much lower than the left. Just compare the bottom of the bumper with the center taillight - they should be parallel.

wombat661 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:15

If you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, you know getting back on the road from dirt at shallow angle is a big NO NO! You always come back in at a steep angle. There is always a step between dirt and pavement. It will mangle your rims, tires and suspension. Given you have a somewhat low profile tire, you got to come back in steep and come back in slowly. Otherwise, you will ding your rims as well.

Once you are off pavement, you are in off-road territory. You got to play by off-roading rules! Read the terrain, know your ground clearance, watch for sharp rocks gully etc etc.

LSXforYourSuperCar > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:16

I also live in metro Detroit, I had a realtor show me a house but she showed up in a Nissan. Next please.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:18

You’ve uncovered the secrets of the Michelin Mafia, beware of large round characters in your rearview mirror

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:21

The last focus I drove was a 2010 black 5 door, it was really nice. It’s nice to see ford not changing anything 5 years later.

Chasaboo > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:23

I had no idea I was such a good driver. I have driven through Tulsa five times now with no issues.

Holden Kennedy > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:24

As a Tulsan who’s working on getting my license, those curbs are both my and my parent’s biggest fears. They certainly help me with paying attention though!

Serious Gord > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:30

Clearly it was NOT designed to shred tires. To accuse the designer if such motives is extremely shoddy and reprehensible journalism.

That it was arguably poorly designed is another topic entirely. I think it is more a case of poor maintenance.

200 Touring > Maxxuman
10/10/2015 at 16:32

It is a rental too, could be a bit.......tweeked from other renters.

Dean > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/10/2015 at 16:34

The 2010 in the US is actually a whole lot different than the current model. We got the Euro Focus in 2012, which was a fairly solid upgrade.

Hipster curious > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:37

Imagine that on a motorcycle?

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:40

NOOOOOO WHY DIDNT I GO!?!?

Joe Darté > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:41

Tulsa backwards is a-slut. This one screwed you good too.

Maxxuman > ben loves his new "real" SUV
10/10/2015 at 16:48

And I’m going to repeat what I said in response to Steve:

CitronC > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:52

But now you know where the initial shredded tire that started the calamitous chain of events came from. Mystery solved!

Slave2anMG > desertdog5051
10/10/2015 at 16:55

You. You go sit in the car and THINK about what you just did.

burpbeepburp > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:56

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-klaho-MAAAAA, where the tires get shredded all the time!!!!!”

Oklahoma is OK! Except for our crappy freeway ramps!

Oklahoma - Native America! Because if you ride a horse, you’re tires won’t get shredded!

And the ever present weather joke in Kansas - Oklahoma sucks/blows (depending on which way the wind is blowing!

900turbo > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 16:59

I used to live in Owasso, north of Tulsa during my Worldcom days. Wondered the same thing...

jbm0866 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:01

Does the city own any tire shops, roadside service? Just asking for a friend..

batchtots > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:03

You should’ve come to Oklahoma City. What is there to sight see in Tulsa?

SteveLehto > CitronC
10/10/2015 at 17:04

It’s a never ending cyclr.

SteveLehto > batchtots
10/10/2015 at 17:05

The Woody Guthrie Center.

TulsaMtnBiker (OkieRising) > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:08

Kinja'd!!!

I see my stomping grounds have greeted you well. Tulsa’s a good place to visit, but bring your ‘A’ game for “road feature avoidance.”

facw > Leon711
10/10/2015 at 17:22

Focus sedan isn’t so horrible. It’s the Fiesta sedan that’s really awkward.

Rusty_Jaguar > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:27

Yeah, like anybody in Oklahoma ever “designed” anything....

StayPutReachJump > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:38

Tesla’s an option. I keep having to remind my more conservative family members that California is indeed part of the USA. I installed a tow hitch on mine a few weekends back, and it was cool to see “Made in USA” on nearly all the parts I came in contact with. In fact, the only part that I could see that wasn’t made in the US was the rear axle tire pressure antenna and module (which was made in Taiwan).

NativeTexan > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 17:59

“ Having never been to Tulsa, I thought it would be a fun little trip.”

Rookie Mistake

scottcom36 > Maxxuman
10/10/2015 at 18:01

Cameras do all sorts of weird things rendering a 3-D world onto a flat image. And camera phones do a great job most of the time, but every so often something ends up looking out of whack.

Kyle Critchnau > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:06

I live just north of Tulsa. Where was this at? I don’t remember noticing anything like this. Though, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably due to not having enough money in the budget (thanks, Tea Party) to actually finish a shoulder properly.

BobWellington > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:07

Looks like laziness on the part of whoever made/planned the road.

greyedpheonix > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:07

I misread that as Tesla and was like “damn they’re serious about security”...

Cowboy behind the wheel > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:17

Kinja'd!!!

I know exactly where that spot is. I have no idea why the shoulder there is crap, considering they recently re-did that stretch of highway along with the onramps. If you’d been on the correct side of Tulsa, in Broken Arrow, that wouldn’t have happened. I hate going to that area (Tulsa Hills) because of all the soccer moms in giant SUVs too busy texting to pay attention to driving.

Bonus, you can see the tower cranes and growing high-rise of one of my construction projects in the background. Neato!

What did you think of the Woody Guthrie Center?

SteveLehto > Cowboy behind the wheel
10/10/2015 at 18:19

It was very cool.

OTE_TheMissile > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:25

[writing on notepad] Never...drive...through Tulsa...OK, got it.

Seriously though, holy fuck.

Doribax > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:25

As a native Tulsan your picture of the car and the tow truck places you outside of the Tulsa Hills shopping center, in West Tulsa on I-75. Generally the south and southeast of Tulsa have the best kept roads of the area. Coincidentally, that’s the most rapidly expanding areas (and most infused with new money). I-75 is certainly one of the worse maintained highways (I-44, I-169 and I-64, and the Creek Turnpike are all much better, and even I-244 is getting much overdue roadwork).

TL,DR; you hit exactly the wrong highway in Tulsa to go off-roading.

Stef Schrader > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:27

Oklahoma’s roads — not unlike the rest of the state — suck.

Steve Cornelius > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:31

Kinja'd!!!

I didn’t want to run it over. With my luck, it would hit something underneath the car and leave me with a problem when I returned the car on Monday morning.

Opa Brummbaer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2015 at 18:33

That is the understatement of the century!

Thud Slamrod > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:37

Continentals eh? Theres your problem. I swear their sidewalls are made of pure uncut Velveeta.

coqui70 > Jake Kirn
10/10/2015 at 18:38

Candy blue ... looks fantastic when the sun hits it just right (some gold flakes in the top coat).

ztatum > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:43

If that were in NYC you would be able to sue the city over it. I guess OK doesnt entertain that kind of thing...

Kyree S. Williams > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:47

I was in Tulsa a couple of weeks ago (I live in nearby Oklahoma City) and watched the same thing happen to someone. It is, indeed, ridiculous.

Naughty0ne > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:47

Tulsa backward = A Slut

A Slut backwards = $50

navyboyok > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:49

I feel it is my duty to say welcome to Tulsa and buy stock in tire companies here. Now you know why there is a tire place on just about every block here. And if you think that’s bad just wait till a sink hole opens on hwy 75 and eats the rest of your car... Don’t worry thou I’m sure ODOT is (fixing) that next.

Kyree S. Williams > Doribax
10/10/2015 at 18:50

I usually only go to Tulsa to visit one friend, so I stay on the turnpike, and then I-44.

Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:52

What the hell? How do they get away with shit like this?

Naughty0ne > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 18:53

I’ve seen this a few different places. I seems like they lay the new material down on the road (thicker), groove it, and offer no consideration to where it meets the edge.

I imagine it is left this way so that (a) more money isn’t spent digging down and conditioning the side of the road and (b) it helps keep rain water from pooling onto the road surface.

dataPOG > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/10/2015 at 18:56

Don’t try to change a tire though, unless you can get far enough away to react to idiots.

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > wheelguy
10/10/2015 at 19:12

that law is not in effect until November

desertdog5051 > Slave2anMG
10/10/2015 at 19:13

But, but, but, what did I just do?

Cow > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/10/2015 at 19:20

Yeah, this seems shockingly cheap and short-sighted on the behalf of Oklahoma’s state government. Don’t know what I expected from a state run by Republicans for so long.

Kidding, I’m from Missouri, I know what to expect.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > desertdog5051
10/10/2015 at 19:21

My groan woke the dead.

Hate you at the moment.

Those fucking zombies.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 19:28

This is probably what would happen in SoCal, too, if they didn’t pave everything in with extensive curbing. A lot of older infrastructure in northern UT, if you could find concrete used, was just like this.

It’s an effect of doing it cheap in an environment where using concrete is weird in a place there such use is dangerous.

It sucks that your visit was ruined like that.

batchtots > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 19:39

Sorry I read that part, but thought you did additional sight seeing. It was more sarcasm than anything. I’m sure Tulsa has something for everyone but if you find yourself in OKC, head to Bricktown.

pip bip - choose Corrour > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 19:42

i grazed some concrete whilst turning around in Ireland in 2000 , did the same , ripped the sidewall out of my rental car tyre.

i just left it till i dropped the car back.

metroidzer0 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 20:03

Native Tulsan here. Can't say I've seen curbs like that around most of the city. Even the quality of the pavement looks old. What area of town were you in?

metroidzer0 > metroidzer0
10/10/2015 at 20:06

Looks like you were on the edge of the city near around highway 75?

NoahFect > Cow
10/10/2015 at 20:06

Remember, you’re dealing with people who schedule an execution, and when they notice that instead of potassium chloride, the pharmacy sent over some potassium acetate , they say “Fuck it, ass-tate, chloride, whatever, same shit. Let’s hurry up and do this, I’m late for church.”

I was born and raised there, so I know exactly what to expect.

QQXQXL123 > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 20:16

Seems appropriate.

leelze > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 20:17

I’ve never so thoroughly enjoyed reading a story about getting a flat tire.

leelze > dataPOG
10/10/2015 at 20:18

Which, knowing the area, would have to be real far.

PRNDL+ > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 20:19

Question: “What time is it right now in Oklahoma?”

Answer: “About 1922.”

NativeTexan > dataPOG
10/10/2015 at 20:44

Kinja'd!!!

I was Driving this back to Austin with the three other coaches after a race in OKC and had a blowout about 30 miles from the TX border. Rear drivers side truck tire which also killed the trailer brake. Flush lane width paved shoulders definitely made things easier changing that tire is something I would not wish upon my worst enemy.

Kinja'd!!!

Never thought I would wish for a state trooper to pull behind me on the interstate but,

They left us by the roadside
Down hearted and alone
Finally got back behind the wheel
Said boys I’m going home
We turned back on the interstate
Downhearted but alive on that
Evening in late April, Oklahoma, 2015

My British German car wasn't that reliable, is now dead > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 21:18

Okc resident here, every road in Oklahoma is designed to do maximum damage to cars and maintained by people who can’t be bothered to give aa fuck. Case in point, one of our freeways developed a hole in it last year. All the way through.

Turbo-Brick > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 21:24

I feel like I’ve heard that you can seek compensation from the local/state gov’t under certain conditions if your car/wheel/tire is damaged by a defect in the road surface. Is that anything you are familiar with?

SteveLehto > Turbo-Brick
10/10/2015 at 21:31

Depends on the state. But i doubt they’d call this design a defect.

Scott the Stagehand > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:00

It happens. Steve you live in Michigan you should be used to blown tires and bad roads.

BoostimusPrime > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:00

Oklahoma is clearly in bed with the tire and tow companies.....

200 Touring > ztatum
10/10/2015 at 22:14

Same with Chicago, some of the potholes can become things of legend by the end of winter!

HolmerS > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:20

Now I know why I keep shredding tires. I was born in Tulsa. It’s in my DNA! I always thought it was just because I drive fast, RWD cars.

dataPOG > NativeTexan
10/10/2015 at 22:21

HA! I sat in my car, after deciding that trying to change my right rear was nuts (and also a bad time to find out the car’s jack retaining bolt/nut is seized), and watched an 18-wheeler go from the 2 to the 4 lane in what seemed like a blink of the eye. When roadside assistance called to update arrival time, I told him he needed to hurry or there’d be a pancake when he arrived. This was at 3pm, which is the unofficial start of evening rush.

ApriliaFutura > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:22

I’m not a fan of Tulsa streets, but they DO have a dam fine group at Caffiene & Gasoline, so great roads just to the east and the worst parking meters downtown, ever.

MarcusAurelius > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:28

Welcome to Tulsa Steve! That is weird, you were over by Tulsa Hills and I drive around there all the time and never noticed that. South Tulsa generally has the best roads, but that isn’t saying much.

Several years ago we moved to Jenks and any time I go back to midtown/downtown I am shocked at how shitty the roads are!

Cole Carey > SteveLehto
10/10/2015 at 22:42

Lived here my entire life, pulled on the side of the road countless times. Never had this happen. My wife did come home once with three nails in one tire, though.