What do you do when a tire explodes on a highway?

 

Dealing with a tire blowout safely at speed on the highway is a tough skill to master. And if you don't know what to do when your tire blows, you could end up in trouble.

Frame explosion

If a front tire blows out, your car will pull you left or right as the steering wheel starts to vibrate. If a rear tire blows out, you will feel the car rocking back and forth. These are the reasons why it is essential for you to know the right thing to do if your tire blows.

The right thing to do

Here's what to do if your tire blows while you're driving. First, keep a firm grip on the wheel and do not brake. Braking may cause slipping and loss of control of the vehicle. And while you're trying to regain control, try to maintain your speed.

Then steer left or right to stay in your lane, and take your foot off the accelerator to slow down. When you feel in full control and the vehicle's speed has slowed, move through the traffic to a safe place on the side of the road. Once you reach a speed of 30 km/h or less, you can hit the brakes to stop. And turn on your emergency lights that alert others that your car is down so they slow down and move around you. Then put the spare tire on or call roadside assistance.

Precautionary guidelines

Now that you know what to do if your tire blows out, do you know how to prevent it from happening? Your tires are more likely to blow out if they have a lot of mileage on them. It is wise to check the tires for wear before a road trip and double check that they are not flat.

Most explosions occur when driving on underinflated tires at high speeds. Checking tire pressure once a month can prevent this disaster.