Hi - I'm new here.... I drive a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. This morning on the way to work (on a busy fwy) someone pulled up on the left of me and tried to get me to roll down my window and tell me something.... I couldnt hear him... so I just kept driving. Then about 15 minutes later another car flashed his lights at me, then came up on the right side of me and told me there were flames coming from my tire!!!
So I proceeded to make my way off of the freeway and to a gas station. On the way I checked for any lights on the dash and looked out my windows to see any smoke or smell anything. At the gas station, a tow truck driver looked under the hood, checked and smelled the oil, and checked the wheel wells... nothing! I saw no flames! Does anyone know what May have caused this? I'm Assuming it came from behind since both drivers who notified me came from behind. Further - I had an oil change on tuesday evening - when I got home that night I smelled something mildly burning from the grill when I walked around the car.... but nothing the following days. I'm really afraid to drive home... I have a 25 mile drive.

Ideas?

 

Gee, something is bad. Take it to a qualified mechanic. Maybe it's still under warranty? Even have it towed there.

 

Is it possible you have something metal, like a nail or a screw, sticking out of a tire causing sparks (rather than flames) on the pavement? Also, a severely worn tire may do this from the steel belting threads sticking out.