"Where Did the Tire Go?" Loud Noise from Car Shocks Drivers... Driver's Response Even More Baffling

Claimed to Be Driving at 50-60 km/h
Continued Driving Despite Horns and Warnings
Informant Reported to Police and Guided Vehicle to Roadside

A vehicle completely missing its tire was spotted driving on a major arterial road in downtown Seoul, sparking controversy. It was reported that the vehicle was running with one of its front wheels missing the rubber tire, with only the rim making contact with the road surface.

On June 10, Yonhap News TV reported that a post and video titled "Driving a Vehicle Without a Tire" had recently been uploaded on social media platforms including SNS, sparking debate. The author, identified as Mr. A, stated that on May 22, while passing through the Eastern Arterial Road in Seoul, he witnessed a passenger car driving with its left front tire completely stripped off.

A vehicle completely missing its tire was spotted driving on a major road in downtown Seoul, sparking controversy. The vehicle was reportedly running with one of the front wheels having no rubber tire, with only the rim touching the road surface. Screenshot from SNS

According to Mr. A, at the time, he was traveling in a vehicle with his colleagues when they noticed a car making an abnormal, loud noise. Upon getting closer to check, they found that the car was missing its front tire, and the rim was directly rubbing against the road as it moved. Mr. A explained, "At first, the noise was so loud that I thought something was wrong, but upon closer look, there was no tire at all. The vehicle was driving on as if nothing was wrong, without even turning on the hazard lights."

In the video shared by Mr. A, the gray passenger car is seen driving with its front wheel missing a tire, leaving only the rim in contact with the road. Friction noise is clearly audible as the rim touches the road surface, and evidence of abrasion around the wheel is visible. Mr. A claimed that surrounding vehicles tried to warn of the danger by honking or approaching the car, but the driver showed no reaction. He added, "Even a dump truck driver tried to alert the driver, but the driver just kept looking forward and continued driving. In congested sections, the car moved slowly, but once traffic cleared, it sped up."

Mr. A's party estimated that the vehicle was traveling at about 50 to 60 kilometers per hour. He also noted that the car did not move to a lower lane but changed lanes up to the second lane, causing anxiety among nearby drivers. Mr. A and his party immediately reported the situation to the police and followed the car to monitor the situation. They then used a safety wand and megaphone from their vehicle to request the driver to stop and guided the problematic vehicle toward the lower lane. They also alerted trailing vehicles to the hazard to prevent secondary accidents and handed the scene over to the police upon their arrival.

Mr. A said, "We followed the vehicle for about 6 to 7 kilometers after first noticing it. When we asked the driver why he kept driving, he replied that he was on his way to get the tire replaced."

The gray passenger car in the shared video is driving on the road with only the front wheels remaining, without tires. Friction noise occurs as the wheels directly contact the road surface, and traces that appear to be wear marks around the wheels can also be seen. Screenshot from SNS

After watching the video, online commenters responded, "If you're going to get your tire replaced, you should call for a tow, not drive," "I can't believe someone drove 50 to 60 kilometers like that," "It must have been terrifying for the surrounding drivers," "It's really fortunate that there wasn't a major accident," "The tipster and his group stayed calm and prevented a secondary accident," and "The driver put not only himself but other people's lives at risk."

Meanwhile, driving on just the rim without a tire is extremely dangerous. Tires support the vehicle's weight, provide grip on the road, and are responsible for steering, braking, and shock absorption. Without a tire, the vehicle loses balance, the braking distance increases, and during sudden braking or lane changes, the car is much more likely to veer to one side or lose control.

Additionally, when the rim comes into direct contact with the road, metal fragments can scatter or sparks may occur, which can lead to rim damage, suspension system damage, and damage to the car's underbody. On busy arterial roads, such as those in the city center, the risk of secondary accidents like sudden braking, rear-end collisions, or evasive maneuvers by following vehicles increases significantly. According to the Road Traffic Act, drivers are required to properly operate vehicle controls such as steering and braking devices, and must not drive in a way that endangers others given the vehicle's structure, performance, and traffic conditions. As a result, depending on the police investigation, a violation of the duty of safe driving may be reviewed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.