# Burnt tire smell inside car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mitsubishi, lancer\ **Created:** [December 24, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639 "2016-12-24T01:53:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@Toiley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Toiley)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/1 "2016-12-24T01:53:16Z")
Its snowing here and my car got stuck so had to rev the engine and twice today i smelt what seemed like burnt tire smell from inside the car. Should i worry? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/2 "2016-12-24T02:28:46Z")
Yes, stop whatever you are doing to create that smell! Seriously though, is this a manual transmission? If so, it could be hot clutch you are smelling. Or it could be spinning tires on the road. That won’t get you un-stuck, that will just ruin tires. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/3 "2016-12-24T02:52:41Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Or it could be spinning tires on the road. If this is the cause, you may want to consider newer and/or better tires for your driving environment. Post back of you’d like some advice on this issue. I also carry a plastic bottle full of dry sand to sprinkle on ice if necessary. I use a Gatorade bottle, but and plastic bottle that seals well will work. I like this type of bottle because it’s easy to carry around, easy to spread (you don’t need much), and the bottle keeps the sand dry so it doesn’t absorb moisture and promote rust like a sandbag does. I use a Gatorade bottle 'cause it’s tough and won’t get broken in the trunk. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/4 "2016-12-24T04:35:30Z")
Could be a drive belt. ---
**Author:** ![Toiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@Toiley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Toiley)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/5 "2016-12-24T04:56:42Z")
Yes its a manual transmission but it wouldnt be the clutch. ---
**Author:** ![Toiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@Toiley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Toiley)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/6 "2016-12-24T05:18:39Z")
My foot wasnt on the clutch so how bad of damage would it be to the tire(s) ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/7 "2016-12-24T14:27:28Z")
I’m not sure what technique you used, but be aware that when you’re spinning the tires to get unstuck, you still need to do it in a controlled fashion. You don’t want to just peg the accelerator and hold it there for a long time. Did you try rocking the car back and forth, which often works better? What kind of tires do you have now? How much tread is on them? How much snow were you in? As others have mentioned, you might not have appropriate tires if this happened. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/8 "2016-12-24T14:29:37Z")
Oh yes it could be the clutch! Overloading the driveline could cause the clutch to slip and that smells a bit like burning rubber. And if you were stationary, you slipped the clutch to start that tire spinning, right? How much damage can it do? If you can smell it, then you just rubbed, say, $10 off the tire. Do that enough and the tire explodes. Keep in mind, because of the differential. if ONE tire is spinning and the other is not, the spinning tire’s speed is double what shows on the speedometer. See the discussion and @B.L.E 's post here; > [@Tire speed from axle](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-speed-from-axle/58452): > > Tom & Ray recently answered a question about a blow tires on a 2005 Vibe after spinning in snow. Part of the answer stated that the tire speed was double the speedometer indicated speed due to the average axle speed (If speed shows 60, but only one tire is spinning, then actual was 120). I am not an Vibe expert, but I find this hard to believe! In the old days, speed was based of the transmission output (cable at rear of transmission led directly to speedometer). I suspect in newer cars the… ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/9 "2016-12-24T15:39:47Z")
> [@Toiley](#): > > My foot wasnt on the clutch so how bad of damage would it be to the tire(s) It’s not possible to free yourself once stuck in snow without using the clutch. However, it’s also true that while the rubbery smell was probably from the clutchplate that does not automatically mean it’s shot. Its life is probably shortened, but if it’s still operating okay just keep on driving. If it squeals a bit, that would be some glaze. It might go away by itself. When the time comes for a new clutch you’ll get to see the glaze if any as well as the condition of the flywheel face. Hopefully it’ll all be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Toiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@Toiley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Toiley)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/12 "2016-12-24T16:39:25Z")
It cant be the clutch i wasnt slipping the clutch i got the car moving like i always do. Basically rev to 1500 while releasing clutch after that i was just adding gas while stuck so it couldnt be the clutch. Now how bad would my tires be now? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/13 "2016-12-24T16:41:20Z")
So the car stalled? You can’t engage the clutch without some small amount of slip. Engine turning, transmission isn’t, engage clutch, clutch slips. That’s the way it works. If the car isn’t moving, the single tire breaks loose and spins. That can’t be done without a bit of clutch slip either. If the drag from the spinning tire is enough to create a burnt rubber smell, there may be some hot clutch smell, too. Either way, stop it or get ready to spend money. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/14 "2016-12-24T16:57:34Z")
> [@Toiley](#): > > Now how bad would my tires be now? Look at 'em and see if the tread is deformed. If not, drive on… ---
**Author:** ![Toiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@Toiley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Toiley)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/15 "2016-12-24T17:06:34Z")
Well i used the clutch obviously. But for less than 3 seconds. My buddy is a mechanic and he said the clutch would be fine it would be just minor damage to the tyres ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/16 "2016-12-24T17:18:23Z")
I don’t think I will ever comprehend why posters ask for advice then reject it. If they already “know” the answer, why are they here? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/17 "2016-12-24T18:09:04Z")
This OP seems to show up every so often asking clutch questions they should have figured out by now. It could be that some people just are not meant to have manual transmissions. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/18 "2016-12-24T21:39:55Z")
> [@Toiley](#): > > i got the car moving like i always do. Basically rev to 1500 while releasing clutch after that i was just adding gas while stuck so it couldnt be the clutch. Now how bad would my tires be now? I don’t know how bad your tires are, but you clutch is sending you warning signs (warning smells?). The technique you describe is not good technique. How do I know? I’ve been driving clutches since the late '60s, and only worn one out… at 295,000 miles after also having taught both of my kids how to drive on it and having given it to my daughter for a daily driver at 275,000 miles. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/19 "2016-12-24T22:07:49Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > The technique you describe is not good technique. …and, let us bear in mind that the OP has been posting questions regarding how to drive his manual shift car for over 4 months, and in those 4 months, he could very possibly have taken…a LOT…of life off of the clutch plate. A few months ago, when I advised the OP to enlist the help of a friend, relative, or co-worker to sit next to him and teach him how to operate a manual shift correctly (rather than trying to learn via cyberspace), some forum members thought that I was being…inappropriate. In light of the latest evidence that the OP is still abusing the clutch–4 months later–I don’t think that my earlier advice was actually inappropriate. 😒 ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/20 "2016-12-24T22:17:23Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > I advised the OP to enlist the help of a friend, relative, or co-worker to sit next to him and teach him how to operate a manual shift correctly I think that’s a wise suggestion. Hopefully the OP will give it serious consideration. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/21 "2016-12-25T00:01:23Z")
I used to live near a ski resort in Colorado, so have some experience w/getting unstuck in a snow drift. That can definitely damage stuff on the car if done aggressively. Including the transmission and clutch. A friend of mine one time broke his timing belt extracting his car by spinning his tires from a snow drift, so that’s another possible thing to damage. I expect though for you it is just some of the burning tire smell remains. Other than a visual inspection of the tires and the observable belts, suggest to drive the vehicle gently for a few days and see if the odor goes away. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639/22 "2016-12-25T15:29:32Z")
> [@GeorgeSanJose](#): > > have some experience w/getting unstuck in a snow drift. That can definitely damage stuff on the car if done aggressively. Including the transmission and clutch. Yup! Back in the early '60s, my brother–who was and is a very skilled manual shift driver–got stuck in a big snowbank in his '59 Ford, after a skidding bus ran him off the road. After about 20 minutes of trying to free the car from the snowbank, he had fried the clutch. I have no idea regarding how much wear was already on that car’s clutch plate, but a perfectly-operating clutch was essentially ruined by that one fairly brief episode. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/burnt-tire-smell-inside-car/97639.md?page=2)