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Arizona DPS Takes Tire Treads On Interstates Very Seriously

Watch out for "alligators" on Arizona's Interstates. That's what state troopers and the Arizona Department of Transportation call blown out tire treads.

Car experts routinely warn the triple-digit temperatures are murder on tires, especially at freeway speeds.

With highs pushing past 110 degrees this week, Bart Graves at DPS said they expect to see a spike in the number of "gators" littering highways.

Driving over one can cause serious damage to your car, while avoiding one can cause a wreck.

"Call 911. We, or our partners at ADOT, will respond right away," said Graves.

Experts for Car and Driver magazine attribute a combination of factors for causing a blow out in the extreme heat, including low tire pressure, long driving periods and worn tread.

Holliday Moore was a reporter at KJZZ from 2017 to 2020.