What to Do If Your Tire Blows Out

A busted tire in the middle of the road is a big headache. It means that you’ll have to do the dirty work of replacing your tires. Also, for those in a rush, it translates to a missed appointment or delayed chores. Your tires can blow at any time. It could be due to excessive wear and tear, extreme heat, or a sharp object you hit at full speed. But whatever the reason is, you should know how to deal with the situation, especially if you have passengers aboard.

So what are you supposed to do? Here are some of the safety steps that you should take:

Don’t try to hit the brakes

The moment your tire blows up, avoid slamming the brakes in an effort to stop your car. Doing so will only send the car veering in a different direction where you’ll lose control. As much as it’s the first instinct that will come into you, avoid hitting the brakes.

Activate your flashers

While you’re waiting for your car to stop, activate your hazard lights. This way, other drivers will know that something is wrong with your vehicle. Aside from keeping you from being hit, this is also for the sake of other cars. When they realize that something is wrong, they can keep distance to prevent any mishaps should you lose control of the vehicle.

Grip the wheel firmly

A blown tire can cause your steering wheel veering in the wrong direction. The moment that your tire gets busted, grip the wheel firmly and try to keep your car in a straight direction. This is to prevent slamming into other vehicles, especially if you’re on a busy road.

If you worry about hitting other cars, honk to let them know that you’re losing control of the vehicle.

Let your car stop gradually

Slamming the brakes while on a high-speed cruise will send your car spinning. It’s best to let the vehicle stop gradually with your emergency flashers on and while you grip the wheel. This way, you won’t injure anyone and you can minimize damage to your car.

Take note that your car will stop naturally due to the dragging effect of the flattened tire. Once you’re losing speed, that’s the time you can hit the brakes.

Pull off to a safe spot 

Before trying to change your flat tire, see to it that you parked in a safe spot where other drivers can see you. Aside from that, make sure that you won’t be hit by other vehicles. Also, place the reflective triangle on the side where the traffic comes from.

Call for help 

It’s good if you know how to change a tire or if you have a spare tire with you. But if you don’t, you can always call for a roadside assistance service to help you out. Most of these services are located locally and can respond within minutes. Some are even connected to your insurance policy and will cover the replacements for no upfront cost.