Had that happen to me with a set of retreads my dad got for a trailer.
Middle of I-90 out by Ellensburg. Tread peeled itself right off the tire and was laying in the middle of the lane.
Dad says "Go back there and pull that tire off the road before someone hurts themselves."
...I'm 12, so of course, off I go!
I reached down and grabbed that thing with my bare hand.
...and that's the time I learned that you don't do something like that without putting on HEAVY GLOVES FIRST!...or just don't do it. =)
I get back to the truck and see my dad still holding a pair of gloves in his hand.
"Why didn't you take these with you?"
=))
Elvis