Imagine a professor telling you, “You’ll pass if you do nothing.” This was my mantra to the approximately 1,500 drivers I coached on safely navigating a tire blowout. While the idea of a tire bursting can be daunting, and the impulse to react strongly is natural, it’s practice that refines one’s response. With a student driver in the driver’s seat and myself as the co-driver, we would simulate tire blowouts or tread separations.
These simulations were performed across a variety of vehicles – from SUVs and minivans to 18-wheelers. Impressively, not one student lost control. Here’s your guide to handling a tire blowout and ensuring you respond safely.
How to Safely Handle a Tire Blowout:
- Grade B Response: If a driver keeps their vehicle straight and lets the drag from the deflated tire naturally slow down the vehicle to under 30 mph, they’ve essentially achieved the “do nothing” method. This straightforward action is usually the safest reaction to a blowout.
- Grade A Response: To earn a top grade, do something that might seem counterintuitive: briefly press the accelerator post-blowout. Given the drag from the compromised tire, even a sports car in a high gear won’t speed up. This quick press of the accelerator accomplishes two crucial tasks. It not only stabilizes the vehicle in its lane but also keeps the driver focused, discouraging unnecessary turns or brakes. By the time you remember the appropriate response, you’ll have decelerated enough to safely pull over.
Interestingly, while tire blowouts are common in turns on racetracks, they usually occur during long trips on straight highways.
What NOT to Do:
Avoid steering, especially after a blowout or tread separation. Making even a slight turn, particularly away from a burst rear tire, can make the vehicle spin out. Having been the designated driver for blowout demonstrations, I can attest to the dangers of this reaction.
Common Causes of Tire Blowouts:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) points to poor tire maintenance as a leading cause. Ensure your tires are adequately inflated, rotated, and balanced as per your vehicle’s manual. Underinflated tires strain beyond their design, making them susceptible to failure over time. Other factors like overloading your vehicle, striking potholes, or extreme heat can also contribute.
Prevention is Better than Cure:
The most effective way to avert a blowout is to maintain proper tire inflation. Monthly pressure checks, adhering to the manufacturer’s recommended levels (usually found on the driver’s door sticker or in the manual), are advisable. Regularly inspect your tires for visible signs of wear, cracks, or bulges. If you detect any unusual performance, vibrations, or sounds from your tires, seek a professional inspection.
In the event of a blowout, remember to keep your steering steady, allow the vehicle to slow, and, as the British wisely advised in 1939, “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
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