What To Do When You Experience A Tire Blowout
Driving emergencies are part of a driver’s life. No matter how experienced a driver you are or how well maintained your car, emergencies are a part of the overall driving experience. If you ask any driver around you, they will share many experiences in which they or someone they know experienced an emergency. How one handles an emergency is entirely up to the driver.
Drivers are expected to be prepared and calmly respond to an emergency. The way they respond can determine whether one can escape the situation unharmed or not. A tire blowout is one of the most unwanted driving experiences, but it is something which happens more often than not.
No matter how excellent the road conditions are, a tire blowout can occur and put you, your passengers, and other people on the road in harm’s way. What makes a tire blowout dangerous is that it can happen at any time, and is so sudden that many people cannot respond safely and effectively.What causes a tire to a blowout is a question asked by many drivers.
What Causes A Tire to Blowout?
The tire blowout causes are numerous. One reason is overloading. Each tire has a maximum loading capacity, i.e. the maximum weight a tire can hold. Exceeding the weight can result in a blowout. Damage to the tire is another cause. For example, the tire is driven over potholes; thereby, weakening it, causing a sudden blowout at any time.
Overinflated and underinflated tires are another cause of tire blowout. By not maintaining the correct tire pressure, tires are exerted to undue stress. It increases the risk of a blowout. Moreover, puncture or a massive cut to the tire can also cause this phenomenon. Although tires have become increasingly reliable, blowouts do occur.
This brings us to the next part of our discussion, i.e. what to do if your tire blows out? Before reading the following paragraphs, please note that these are just techniques to get you through this untoward experience, and not a 100% guarantee of a safe ending.
How to React to a Tire Blowout?
Whether it is a front tire blowout or a rear tire blowout, the same techniques are applicable in every situation. The techniques are:
Do Not Panic
One of the first things to do if you have a tire blowout is to remain calm! If you panic, you are endangering not only yourself but also your passengers and others. When a tire blows out, a loud noise is heard. The noise is enough to make any person’s heart start pumping faster than usual. However, instead of going into a crisis mode, remaining calm and following the next steps can help you stay safe.
Avoid Hitting the Brakes Suddenly
One of the first instincts is to slam the brakes to regain control of the car. However, if the tire blowout is on a highway, it means that you are driving at high speeds. Hitting the brakes at high speeds can cause the car to lose grip and swerve. Therefore, instead of slamming the brakes suddenly, try to regain control of the vehicle and push down on the brake pedal slowly.
Even if you are driving at a slow speed, hitting the brakes suddenly is never a wise choice. Instead, opt for slowly pushing down on the brake pedal. It will help you to keep control of your car and ensure a gradual stop. While the car is nearing a complete stop, remember to take the car off the road or into the emergency lane.
Keep an Eye on the Road
No matter what happens, keep an eye on the road and look for a safe stop to bring the car to a halt. Many drivers inadvertently take their eyes off the road after they hear the sudden noise from the blowout. Keeping an eye on the road will help keep you and others safe.
Use the Emergency Flashers
Immediately turn on the emergency flashers to give a warning to other drivers of the situation. It will help ensure that other drivers are unaware and keep a safe distance from your vehicle. Also, in extreme circumstances, emergency flashers can assist other drivers in informing emergency responders in advance.
Keep A Firm Grip on the Steering
Under no circumstances, take your hands off from the steering. During a blowout, a car is prone to swerving, making it difficult to control. By ensuring that your hands are on the steering wheel, you can keep the vehicle under control.
Pull off the Road
As mentioned before, pull the car off the road or into an emergency lane once the vehicle is slowed down to a safe speed. Never take the car off the road if the speed is high as you will be exposing yourself to other dangerous situations.
Final Words
A tire blowout is one of the most dangerous situations while driving. However, by remaining calm and by following these techniques, you can increase the chances of safely making it through this unwanted situation. Moreover, to avoid such situations, ensure that the tyres are properly maintained.