A derogatory and condescending term for illegal immigrants that come to America (or to Europe from Africa), usually from Cuba, that employ rickety boats, decades old trucks, and sometimes even tires, as vessels to make the voyage on.
Six tirefloaters washed up on the beaches of Key West yesterday, and they were lucky to be alive, considering their dehydrated and exhausted state.
by Mediamaven July 31, 2006