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Cars have many different uses. Beyond getting you to your destination, automobiles are used for such things as towing, racing, hauling cargo, a collector’s item, a place for conversations, and a form of personal identity and social status. Cars are also a source of fun — and sometimes, in the most unexpected ways. This is exemplified by a viral YouTube video in which a car crushes many soft and crunchy things with its tires. 

YouTube video of a car crushing soft and crunchy things with its tires

Tire runs over ice cream cones in viral YouTube video of car crushing soft and crunchy things
Car runs over ice cream cones | Life Hacks & Experiments via YouTube

You might not think a car crushing soft and crunching things would be a “must-see” media event. However, the video, posted on the Life Hacks & Experiments YouTube channel, is immensely popular. It’s gone viral with nearly 70 million views. People seem to be enthralled by the images of a car tire running over various objects — and seeing them get crushed and destroyed in different ways. 

In addition to the visual novelty, some people might also be attracted to the auditory sensory aspects. A popular niche type of video on YouTube and other video platforms is ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response). For ASMR, listeners experience a tingling sensation on the head, neck, and spine. Some also experience light euphoria and a relaxed feeling. 

Vehicle runs over fruit, vegetables, toothpaste, Orbeez, and more

Tire runs over Orbeez water balloon in viral YouTube video of car crushing soft and crunchy things
Car runs over Orbeez water balloon | Life Hacks & Experiments via YouTube

The YouTube video kicks off with food items, including a red bell pepper, some jello, and packs of apple juice. They are no match for the car tire. However, surprisingly, a toy ball made of tightly wound elastic string managed to stay intact. It temporarily flattened when run over — but then mostly returned to its original shape.

Some of the crushed objects produced especially strange sounds and images of destruction. This includes tubes of toothpaste, a large squash, a helium balloon, a stack of paper cups, ice cream cones, light bulbs, and a cartoon of orange juice.

Also, the standout moment was the explosion of a big Orbeez water balloon. Orbeez are tiny beads that greatly expand when filled with water. They’re popular children’s toys — but were originally invented to retain moisture in the soil for plants. However, for the video, the Orbeez serve as fodder for some car-crushing fun.

YouTube commentator reactions to the video

With the bizarre nature of the car crushing soft and crunchy things — along with the considerable popularity of the video, it’s not surprising to find many interesting comments:

Some viewer comments expressed satisfaction, while others were humorous:

  • “This was soooooo satisfying.”
  • “My mind will be satisfied after watching your videos.”
  • “And I watch this over and three or 10 times, probably 10 because it’s so satisfying.”
  • “Rest in peace food.”
  • “Lol imagine cleaning this for each clip.”
  • “This is what you call people have nothing better to do with their free time.”

Also, the video appeared to reach a large international audience. Most of the comments for the video were in other languages.

How deep does a nail or other sharp object have to puncture to cause a flat tire?

Vehicle drives over three light bulbs
Car runs over light bulbs | Life Hacks & Experiments via YouTube

While the food and other objects in the YouTube video were either destroyed or took a serious beating, the tires of the car held up well. It likely would have been a different story if the folks at Life Hacks & Experiments used sharper objects.

With this in mind, how deep does a nail or other sharp object have to puncture to result in a flat tire? While it varies according to the type of tire and tread depth, the average puncture depth to cause a flat is ½ inch, per WapCar

Also, the puncture might not immediately cause a flat. Several years ago, I ran over a nail in a parking lot outside of my office in Wisconsin. The parking lot often has random debris, such as broken glass, for it’s also used by a few local bars. When I returned to my car a couple of hours later, the tire was fine. However, by the end of the workday, it was flat. It just took a long time for the air to seep out of the punctured tire. 

As detailed by Medium, for obvious safety reasons, it’s best not to drive on a flat tire. You should only drive on one to pull over to the side of the road — or another safe place to stop. If your tire has just a partial flat, then you can drive to an auto repair center, but only if it’s a short distance and you limit your speed to 15 mph. Also, to avoid any further damage to a tire, try to drive as straight as possible — without any swerving. Additionally, if it’s an option, go on a smooth road — and avoid uneven or rough surfaces. 

However, if you want to drive over soft and crunchy things like in the YouTube video, your car tires will likely be fine. You might also enjoy a “satisfying” ASMR experience.