How to Handle a Tire Blowout
When experiencing a tire blowout, the key is to keep your cool, and to maintain control at all times.
Up next in Driving & Car Safety (28 videos)
Stay safe on the road with the important information in this car and driver video series.
You Will Need
- A quick response time
- Calm under pressure
Steps
-
Step 1
Stay cool
Ignore your natural instinct to hit the brakes or jerk the steering wheel when you have a blowout.
-
Step 2
Accelerate slightly
Accelerate slightly to maintain control of the vehicle. Keep going straight.
-
Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands at 10 o'clock and two o'clock on the wheel to avoid losing control.
-
Step 3
Decelerate
Ease off the accelerator slowly.
-
Step 4
Coast
Maintain your course while the vehicle slows.
-
Step 5
Apply brakes
Apply the brakes gently when your car slows to 30 miles per hour.
-
Step 6
Turn on right turn signal
Turn on your right turn signal.
-
Never stop on the left side of the road, if possible. This is the most dangerous place to be.
-
Step 7
Pull over
Pull your vehicle off to the side of the road, and breathe a sigh of relief…you’ve just survived a blowout.
-
Michigan has the highest rate of seat belt usage in the U.S., at 97.2 percent.
