[Stuckinda60s]

Coming back from Norwalk on I80 through the mountains in PA, several years ago, driving my wife's '97 GP going uphill on a section which had been built-up between two hills. There was a steep drop-off on each side where there had been no fill. On the left, there was a small shoulder with no barrier before the steep grassy drop, 150' or more, to where the built-up areas for east and westbound roads met. There was a concrete drain tunnel entrance at the bottom. On the right, the angle was steep enough that the tops of the trees next to the road were just over my head.

I was barreling past a loaded semi at 80+ when I saw sparks under the trailer and my right rear tire exploded. I felt that I couldn't go to the left because, if I slid at all, I could lose it and tumble down the bank to impact the drain tunnel entrance to the other roadway. I didn't think I could hit the brakes or let entirely off the gas and maintain control. The only option was to slow down, pull behind the semi and ease onto the right shoulder as close as I could get to the barrier on that side.

That was what I did, without having any sense of being on the verge of losing control. I had always been impressed with the GP's handling, but was still surprised that I had so little trouble with a blowout at that speed.

The tractor I was passing had lost his rear driveshaft and that had come back and hit my tire. I got my wife out and had her stand on the other side of the barrier. The tractor had pulled over. I swapped to the donut then pulled the car in front of the truck to protect my rear from traffic. I talked to the Mexican, heavily-accented, driver and got his company information before I drove to a Walmart and got two new tires.

I sent the bill to his company, explaining that I bought two new tires because of the ABS. My tires weren't that old but I didn't want to have problems with tires from different manufacturers. They paid me without question.