Can rubber tires protect your car from lightning?

Some weather conditions are ones you'd rather not be stuck in traffic for. Tornadoes and hurricanes, for example – any storm strong enough to toss your car could lead to a terrifying and dangerous situation on the road. But what about lightning? Can it strike your car, and if it does, will its passengers survive?

For years, it's been believed that there’s no safer place than your car when lightning strikes. The idea behind this is simple: A car provides a great defense against a lightning bolt because rubber isn’t a good conductor of electricity. That means the rubber tires will supposedly keep you safe in your shielded car. It's also why you should wear rubber-soled shoes during a lightning storm – it’s said no harm will come to you as long as you're wearing them, or so Grandma always claimed.

Well, Grandma needs to update her knowledge. Lightning can indeed strike a car, and rubber tires (or shoe soles) won't stop it. In this article, we’ll explain what happens when lightning hits a car and how the people inside can stay safe.

Unpacking a Common Myth

Rubber doesn't shield you from lightning in a storm. Yes, rubber is an electrical insulator, but objects like your shoes or bike tires are too thin to offer any protection against a lightning strike. However, your grandmother isn’t entirely wrong – your car can be a relatively safe refuge during a thunderstorm, but not because of the tires. It’s for another reason altogether.

While rubber tires won’t keep you safe from lightning, the metal frame of your car certainly will. Electricity follows the path of least resistance, which in this case is through the metal body of your car. Similar to a lightning rod, the metal shell directs the charge to the ground, keeping the interior safe. (This phenomenon is known as a Faraday cage, for anyone interested in extra credit) [source: Skeldon].

Just Because You Stay Inside Doesn't Mean You're Safe

So, staying inside your car will keep you completely safe from any lightning, right? Not exactly. To be fully protected, you need a fully enclosed, metal-bodied car. That means convertibles or fiberglass cars won’t offer any protection during a storm [source: NLSI].

Even if you’re inside a metal-roofed car that acts as a Faraday cage, injury is still possible. There are many metal parts inside the car (such as door handles, window knobs, and even the steering wheel) that can conduct lightning and put you at risk.

Your car’s electrical system adds yet another potential danger during a lightning strike. The extreme voltage from a lightning bolt can disrupt or even damage vital car systems, like brakes or steering. If that’s not dangerous enough, an electrical surge can deploy airbags, melt wiring, or ignite fuel vapors, potentially causing a fire.

A lot can go wrong during a lightning strike. Your rear windshield might shatter, sending glass flying in your direction. You could come into contact with metal or electricity, resulting in burns. Despite these dangers, however, it’s still safer to be inside the car than outside of it.

Preparing for the Storm

The next time the sky darkens and thunder starts rolling in, don’t panic! By remembering a few important guidelines, you can reduce the risk of being struck by lightning.

You don’t want to be the tallest thing around, so if you're stuck in a field or parking lot, stay as low to the ground as possible. Likewise, avoid seeking shelter under tall structures like trees or metal objects. Also, stay away from large bodies of water and high places.

What’s the best move if you're in a car during a storm? Pull over, turn off your engine, activate your emergency lights, and stay calm with your hands away from any metal [source: NLSI]. Grandma would totally approve of this advice.