My tire blew out, what should I do?
A tire blow out is a rapid loss of tire air pressure that can cause your vehicle to lose control. Here are some tips to help you stay safe in the event of a blowout.
The goal in any blowout is to keep the vehicle balanced and controllable. Don’t panic. Any overreaction---including slamming on the brakes or abruptly removing your foot from the accelerator –can result in a loss of control over the vehicle.
Instead, you should take the following steps:
- Hold the steering wheel with both hands.
- Maintain your vehicle speed if possible.
- Gradually release the accelerator.
- Look where you want the vehicle to go and steer in that direction.
- Continue to slow down and pull off the road where and when you judge it’s safe to do so.
No matter which tire blows out—front or back—the steps for maintaining control of your vehicle are the same. The only difference is how you will feel it. In a front tire blowout, you feel the force more in the steering. In a rear blow out, you feel it more in the seat or body of the vehicle.