Will Rubber Tires Protect You From Lightning

Myth 4 if you don t see rain or clouds you re safe.

Will rubber tires protect you from lightning.

Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. Rubber soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning. Myth 8 wearing metal on your body attracts lightning. Here s where your grandmother is right though your car is a fairly safe place to be in a thunderstorm but for a different reason entirely.

Myth 6 if you re outside in a storm lie flat on the ground. Myth 5 a car s rubber tires will protect you from lightning. Myth 7 if you touch a lightning victim you ll be electrocuted. The truth is rubber tires don t prevent lightning strikes in the least bit.

If you check out the graphic below you will notice how the current exits to the ground through the tires. Bolts from the blue can strike 10 15 miles from the thunderstorm. Rubber is indeed an electrical insulator but your shoes or bike tires for instance are way too thin to protect you from a lightning strike. Rubber does not protect you from lightning.

Most people believe the rubber tires on a car prevent lightning strikes. So the rubber tires on your car do not protect you from lightning they simply ground your vehicle so that the electricity has a place to exit.