How To Control Your Vehicle During A Tire Blowout

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A tire blowout is defined as a bursting tire accompanied by a rapid loss of air pressure. You might think that a blowout is caused by an abundance of internal pressure that bursts a weak spot in the tire.

But the truth is that the main reason for them is just the opposite. The tire damage caused by a blowout occurs when there is too little pressure in the tire. This causes the tire to flex beyond its elastic limits until it overheats to the point where the rubber loses its bond and reinforcement.

Most of the time, blowouts are caused by either overloading the vehicle, tire puncture during impact (immediate or delayed), a massive tire puncture that causes rapid air loss, or an unnoticed small tire puncture that causes the tire to slowly lose air. In short, blowouts are caused by anything that allows air to escape and stops the tire from supporting the vehicle’s weight.

Blowouts are pretty uncommon today. This lack of frequency, while good generally, makes them more surprising and potentially more dangerous. Putting the cause of the blowout aside, it is more important what the driver does during a blowout.

What to do during a blowout

It all starts with a loud BANG.

The first reaction many drivers have is to lift their foot off of the accelerator, hit the brakes, and quickly pull over to the side of the road. These typical reactions, however, have proven to be dangerous. And it may make it more difficult for the driver to maintain control.

So, to prepare for a blowout it all starts before the blowout occurs. First of all, you can’t respond to a blowout if you drive with only one hand on the steering wheel. Proper seat and hand position is important for handling a blowout.

If you do have a blowout, the same procedures apply—no matter what kind of vehicle you drive.

Here are the proper steps to take:
1. Step on the accelerator for an instant to preserve vehicle momentum
2. Offset the pulling caused by the blown tire by gently counter steering to keep the vehicle in its lane.
3. Once the vehicle has stabilized, slow down and begin to carefully pull over to the side of the road

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