'I Heard a Cracking Sound:' Tread Separates on Woman's Tires. She Had No Idea It Would Cause a Firestorm of Backlash

One woman’s routine drive turned potentially dangerous when the tires started to do something strange while she was behind the wheel.

The unexpected mechanical failure not only damaged her vehicle but also sparked widespread discussion about tire safety and maintenance.

In a viral video with more than 52,000 views, Tavia La'joi (@tavialajoi) shares footage of what happened to her tires, hoping to find answers from car enthusiasts online.

La'joi shows there was damage on her tires and random material hanging down, but she was confused what it was and what could have caused it.

"Can somebody tell me what the heck happened to my car?Like I'm literally driving down the road and all of a sudden I hear a cracking sound, a piece flew off, and I pull over to see this and I have no idea how in the world," La'joi says in the video, showing the damaged wheel well area of her car.

Commenters suspect that the damage is related to tire tread separation.

What is Tire Tread Separation?

Tire tread separation occurs when the steel belts come away from the cord body, or when the rubber tread loosens from the steel belts underneath, an injury law firm explained.

This type of failure can happen suddenly and without warning, making it particularly dangerous for drivers who may have no indication that their tire is about to fail.

When tread separation occurs, the tire becomes severely out of balance, often producing a heavy thumping noise or causing drivers to feel a squirming sensation in their vehicle. In some cases, drivers may notice a bubble on the sidewall or tread, or what experts call a "mole hole"—a bump about the size of a fingernail that indicates the internal structure has been compromised.

Is Tread Separation Dangerous?

The dangers of tread separation extend far beyond inconvenience. The failure can cause a tire to blow out completely, potentially leading to loss of vehicle control, especially at highway speeds or on slick roads.

Even if drivers manage to maintain control, the violent tire failure can cause significant damage to the vehicle's fender well, as appears to have happened in La'joi's case.

Several factors can increase the likelihood of tread separation, including overinflation, repeatedly hitting potholes or road debris, and driving beyond a tire's rated mileage limit. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a recalls database where drivers can check if their specific tires have known safety issues.

Experts recommend that drivers periodically inspect their tires for abnormalities like bulges and pay attention to changes in how their vehicle rides or sounds.

If a tire experiences tread separation, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced immediately, regardless of how much tread remains.

People didn’t hesitate to share their opinions of what happened to La’Joi’s tire. A few offered advice and words of caution.

“100% retread tire unraveled and as it spins it hits EVERYTHING in reach,” a top comment reads.

“Tread peeled off and whacked everything,” a person said.

“Tires aren't supposed to be smooth,” another pointed out.

“Mam, you must be blessed and highly favored. How has that tire not exploded? You can almost see the air in it,” another wrote.

A few blamed the tire manufacturer, Firestone. There’s no evidence that the brand of tires was a factor in the tread separating on La’Joi’s tires, however.

“Firestone happened. That happen to me on the freeway. They [sold] retread tires and it unraveled,” one alleged. “My hood flew up and side panel broke off.”

Another said that their Firestone tires’ tread separated on their Ford Bronco, causing them to lose control. “Almost bit the dust,” they claimed.

Motor1 reached out to La'joi for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.