Treacherous Trips To Test Our Mettle
You’ve got your Permanent Tire Stickers and nowhere to test ‘em? It’s like having a supercar, but you’re stuck in traffic. You gotta test your limits, stretch the boundaries! If you’ve got the itch to push your Permanent Tire Stickers to the extreme, we’ve got some ideas of where the rubber meets the harshest roads.
Caution: Mileage - and lifespan - may vary. Let’s call this a hypothetical exercise, not a challenge.
The Literal Death Road
Yungas Road, Bolivia
If you’re going to go, you might as well go big. Take a mostly single-lane (but not one-way) gravel road. Add huge cliffs, a rainforest, and sharp turns. Plus a dash of the tourist thrillseekers. Oh, and subtract guardrails while you’re at it.
All told it equals the most dangerous road in the world. It earns its nickname of “The Death Road”; an average of 300 people die every year.
Starting with a “quick” uphill climb to 15,260 ft, Yungus Road continues on almost completely downhill for 40 miles. It’s no wonder that it’s a popular cyclist destination too. Although a section of it has been modernized since 2006, the old path is still a go-to for people with a death wish.
Where Hell Freezes Over
James Dalton Highway, Alaska, USA
On a show about dangerous driving (Ice Road Truckers), the James Dalton Highway is the worst. One of the most isolated roads in America, it follows the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and not much else. And it’s cold…
It crosses through the site of the lowest recorded temperature in United States history (−79.8 °F) recorded in Prospect Creek, Alaska. It’s icy, steep in places, full of big trucks, and there are polar bears. You’d better hope you don’t run out of gas on the way.
Coincidentally, the only towns to gas up on along the route are the optimistically named Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse. Total combined population = 57 cold residents. Not a thriving nightlife scene, we bet.
A Real Scorcher
Interstate 10, Arizona, USA
Looking to warm up after the frigid Dalton Highway? How about a scorching drive through this 100-mile stretch of arid Arizona desert?
You won’t be alone either. In fact, most of the danger comes from the other drivers, with 85 reported fatalities per year on the Arizona-towards-California segment of I-10 alone. That goes hand-in-hand with Arizona’s 700+ driving deaths each year.
As if this wasn’t enough, recent activity on Interstate 10 includes hours-long gunfights and ultra-violent incidents over things like parking. Yes, parking.
Mother Nature ain’t no slouch though. Arizona’s record high temperature is 128 °F and there are dangerous dust storms that contribute to even more accidents. Might want to touch up your Tire Stickers with our Tire Pens or Tire Cleaner after making it through the dust.
Hell Is Other People
Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines
Imagine up to 18 lanes of legendary traffic made up of cars, tour buses, motorbikes, and pedestrians with little to no traffic regulations. Meet the “Killer Highway”. It makes Los Angeles traffic look easy by comparison.
It’s only 7.7 miles long, but it runs right through the heart of a major urban center at 60 miles per hour. There are 7,000 road-related deaths every year. Not only that, the area is plagued by crime too. Oh, and did we mention it floods heavily during storms due to a terrible drainage system?
It’s dangerous in all the ways and the local law enforcement and government don’t seem to be in any hurry to fix it. Good news for those of you who want to test your Tire Stickers (and your patience).
Beautiful And Dangerous
Stelvio Pass, Italy
While the other roads on this list are all about ugly danger, the hairpin turns and beautiful vistas of Stelvio Pass are equal parts beautiful and treacherous. A real femme fatale.
The guard rails are almost non-existent and the 180-degree turns are unforgiving. Take in the scenery too long and it’ll be the last thing you ever see.
You’ll be grateful for some rain-tested tires if it’s wet too because that drive gets slick.
The Terrorist Highway
Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, Afghanistan
It’s 40 miles located in the damn Valley of Death and the Taliban are the least of your worries.
It’s a strategically important road for trade, aid, and refugees and it’s full of slow trucks hauling their wares and fast cars hauling ass through narrow mountain corridors. You’re more likely to be involved in a fatal collision or fall than a terrorist threat, but that’s not saying much. There are even rocket craters that take minutes to climb through. Our Tire Stickers are hearty beasts, but no promises versus an RPG.
Patience might be a virtue here, but it’s not going to help you much.