Submitted by Patricia Witzke
A routine trip to Winnipeg turned into a frightening lesson in vehicle safety for Patricia Witzke after a tire came off her SUV while she was driving on Route 90.
Witzke said she was travelling at a moderate speed on May 25 when she suddenly heard a loud thumping sound coming from her vehicle.
“I knew something was wrong,” she said. “My heart was pounding as I tried to figure out what was happening.”
Fortunately, there was a small area along Route 90 where she was able to pull over safely. After bringing her vehicle to a stop, she discovered her left rear tire had completely detached and was nowhere in sight.
“I felt sick wondering where it had gone,” she said.
As she assessed the situation, several strangers stopped to help. Four young men offered assistance, while another motorist arrived carrying the missing tire.
The man explained he had watched the tire roll diagonally across the road before coming to rest against a parked vehicle.
“He told me I was very lucky,” Witzke recalled. “The tire could have struck another vehicle or caused significant damage.”
The incident left her reflecting on what might have happened if she had been travelling at a higher speed.
“My vehicle could have rolled, and I could have been seriously injured,” she said.
It was then that Witzke realized what had likely caused the problem. After recently having her all-season tires installed, she had forgotten to return for a recommended tire re-torque.
Many automotive service providers recommend that wheel lug nuts be re-torqued after approximately 100 kilometres of driving following a tire change to ensure they remain properly tightened.
“I forgot to have my tires re-torqued after they were installed,” she said. “Looking back, I believe the accident could have been prevented.”
After the Good Samaritans departed, Witzke contacted Manitoba Public Insurance and waited several hours for a tow truck before making arrangements to continue her trip.
Although the experience was stressful and resulted in damage to her vehicle, she considers herself fortunate that no one was injured.
Witzke said she hopes sharing her story will remind other drivers to schedule and complete recommended tire maintenance after seasonal tire changes.
“If this story prevents even one similar incident, it will be worth sharing,” she said. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
