What to do if a tire blows out while driving?

Here is what you should do if your car’s tire blows out while driving.

1. Keep a firm grip on the wheel.
2. Don’t brake.
3. Pullover to the side of the road.
4. Once you’ve stopped, apply your parking brake.
5. Turn on your emergency lights.
6. Put on your spare tire or call your Roadside Assistance service.

What will happen if a tire blows out at highway speeds?

At highway speeds a tire blowout can quickly cause an inexperienced driver to panic and lose control. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tire blowouts cause over 75,000 accidents and kill over 400 drivers each year.

What should you avoid doing if your tire blows out?

If a tire blows out, which action should you avoid? To avoid a side-impact collision, brake or accelerate quickly.

What will you do if your tire burst while driving at a cruising speed?

1. Lay off the accelerator, but stay off the brakes.
2. Assess which tire has exploded.
3. Signal to the side of the road, using as much of the car’s own deceleration to come to a stop.
4. Gently (very gently!) apply the brakes as needed while keeping a firm grip on the steering. Be ready to countersteer.

Can a nail cause a tire blowout?

The short answer is no, it’s not safe to drive with a nail in your tire. There’s a chance that the nail has caused a leak in the tire, allowing air to escape. If you’re driving at speed with a tire down on air pressure, that tire could suffer a blowout, causing it to explode and causing you to lose control of the car.

How do you prevent a spin while skidding?

To avoid a spin, while in a skid, you should: turn in the direction the rear of the vehicle is skidding without oversteering when skidding a motorist should look in the direction he/she wants to go, during a side skid, avoid using the brakes.

Can you drive on a blown out tire?

No. Do not drive on a flat tire. However, it may be necessary to travel a short distance on a flat tire when pulling over to the side of the road. But driving on a flat tire is a surefire way to put your passengers at risk and seriously damage your vehicle.

How do you prevent a tire blowout?

The best way to prevent a blowout is simple, check your tires! Check for low leaks, wear and tear, proper pressure, and keeping your load light, within your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.

What PSI will a tire explode?

about 200 psi
The standard tire is inflated to about 30 to 35 pounds per square inch. Under hot weather and highway conditions, the temperature of the air inside the tire rises about 50 degrees. That increases the pressure inside the tire about 5 psi. The burst pressure of a tire is about 200 psi.

What to do after a tire blowout on the road?

What to Do After a Tire Blowout. After a blowout, only exit your vehicle if you are certain you are safely off the road and out of harm’s way. Turn your emergency flashers on to alert other drivers, and put out reflective cones or triangles if you have them.

Why do tire blowouts happen so often?

Car and Driver says tire blowouts happen more frequently when you’re driving on the interstate or traveling at higher speeds. There’s less of a chance in stop-and-go driving because the tire is turning slowly and not building up as much heat, although it’s still possible to experience a blowout at lower speeds.

What happens to a car when a tire bursts?

When a tire explodes at speed, two things happen: The vehicle starts to slow down. The vehicle pulls strongly to the left or right, depending on which tire burst. To get safely to the shoulder during a blowout, you first need to avoid swerving into another lane or grinding to a dangerously slow speed.

How do you get safely to the shoulder during a blowout?

The vehicle pulls strongly to the left or right, depending on which tire burst. To get safely to the shoulder during a blowout, you first need to avoid swerving into another lane or grinding to a dangerously slow speed. To do this, you need the following one-two punch of speed and steering: