Barkin’ Tires
In Southern and Appalachian speech, barking tires means making the tires squeal briefly when shifting gears or taking off fast - a sharp, quick "yip" of rubber that shows power, speed, or a heavy foot on the clutch.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I heard it called 'barked the tires' ever since I can remember. It's a commmon term around here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I heard it called 'barked the tires' ever since I can remember. It's a commmon term around here. Pronunciation
[BAR-k’n tars]
/ˈbɑːrkɪn tɑːrz/
/ˈbɑːrkɪn tɑːrz/
Meaning & Usage
- To make the tires squeal briefly during acceleration or gear shifting (verb phrase)
Mae:
Did he really open it up?
Did he really open it up?
Earl:
Shoot yeah - he barked the tires goin’ into second.
Shoot yeah - he barked the tires goin’ into second.- To show off power, speed, or driving skill
Mae:
Hear that?
Hear that?
Earl:
Mm-hmm. He’s out there barkin’ tars again.
Mm-hmm. He’s out there barkin’ tars again.★ "Barkin’ tars" is tied to Southern car culture - manual transmissions, hot rods, farm trucks, and teenage mischief. It’s friendly bragging, not reckless burnouts. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Southern and Appalachian automotive slang of the mid-20th century, when manual transmissions were common. "Bark" refers to the quick, sharp sound of a tire squeal during a fast shift.
Usage Notes
Common across the American South and Appalachia; rarely heard outside the region. Most other areas say "chirp the tires" instead. The "tars" pronunciation is a strong regional marker.
Kin Topics
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 25). Barking Tires. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/barking-tires
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Barking Tires." HillbillySlang.com, 25 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/barking-tires.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Barking Tires." HillbillySlang.com. November 25, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/barking-tires.
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