Hello all,

This has been bothering me for some time but now, with my new Subaru
Outback 2.5XT getting pegged this morning, I've reached my limit.

How in the name of all that is holy do you avoid rock throwing vehicles
on the interstate? My 2003 Civic EX shows many signs of battle....
1) 5 chips or tiny cracks in the windshield
2) About the same number of paint chips or scratches on the hood
3) The front airdam literally cut in half, up to 4 inches, on the right
side. This is thanks to hitting a piece of mangled tin roofing some
dumb@!* dropped on the interstate. It was dark, and in a curvy section
of the road. I didn't see it till the truck in front of me ran over it
and threw it at my Civic.

At this point I have identified the following types of rock throwing
vehicles, in order or danger...

1) Large trucks pulling, or hauling, earth moving machinery which are
caked in mud. I guarantee you that you will get pelted by dirt and
rocks trying to pass these guys.
2) 18 wheeler garbage tucks just coming from the dump. Apparently the
dump has gravel roads and its not till the truck gets on the interstate
at 90mph that the rocks begin their exodus from the tires. This is what
got my beautiful Subaru this morning.
3) Gravel trucks which have residual gravel on the back gate of the
truck. Go over a bridge, and BAM, it all falls loose like and pelts
your car like a 12ga at close range.
4) Large dooley / consumer trucks / SUV's which either a) can't drive
and wonder into the emergency lane throwing god know what at your car,
or b) don't have mud flaps and throw crap from the road at your car.
The worst of all is both combined.

I've called the State Insurance Commissioner, I've called the State
Patrol and gotten some of these trucks pulled over, but dangit my
vehicles continue to become casualties of rock throwers. I've tried
driving slower, but I get pelted when they pass me. I've tried driving
faster but I get pelted when I pass them. I live in the southeast and I
assume its even worse up north with the freeze/thaw damage of roads?
How do all yall deal with this issue?

Frustrated,
John

John wrote:
It ain't the type car, it's the tire tread. Some tread designs hold
rocks & some don't. Now if everyone drove with slick tires that
wouldn't happen.