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.
Instructions
- 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.
- TIP: 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.
- TIP: 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.
- FACT: Michigan has the highest rate of seat belt usage in the U.S., at 97.2 percent.
You Will Need
- A quick response time
- Calm under pressure