How to Deal With a Tyre Blowout Whilst Driving?

Do you know what to do if one of your tyres blows out while driving? Hopefully, this is a situation that you will never find yourself in, but it is important to know how to deal with this as it is dangerous and not just for the person behind the wheel. Keep reading to find out how to deal with a tyre blowout while driving.

Preventing a Blowout

Obviously, you will want to prevent a tyre blowout of possible. The best way to do this is to care for your tyres, including keeping them inflated to the right pressure, checking for damage and checking the tread depth. Crucially, be sure to check your tyres over during COVID-19 because prolonged inactivity can take a toll on the rubber.

Causes

A tyre blowout is the rapid loss of air pressure, which can result in a burst tyre. This then makes the car difficult to control and can result in a serious accident. Incorrect tyre pressure is the main reason for a tyre blowout, but there are other cases such as prolonged high-speed driving, overloading the vehicle, bald tyres and road hazards like potholes and debris.

How to React

So, what exactly should you do if you experience a tyre blowout while driving? Your instinct will be to slam on the brakes, but this can create further imbalance and make the car harder to control. Instead, slowly and gradually take your foot off the accelerator and try to keep the vehicle pointed in a straight direction.

You should avoid trying to over-correct the steering or turn as this can create instability and roll the car over. Lightly use the brakes once you are at a slow speed and try to pull over safely to the side of the road.

Tyre Maintenance

It is clear that prevention is the best approach when it comes to a tyre blowout. Tyre maintenance is the best way that you can do this, which is why you need to pay close attention to your tyres particularly before and after a long drive. You need to maintain the right pressure, ensure that you have enough tread (it is worth changing below 3mm) and that there are no signs of damage. If you have damaged tyres and/or little tread depth, you can buy tyres online and change these yourself to give yourself a fresh set.

Hopefully, you will never experience a tyre blowout but it is important that you are prepared and you need to know how to prevent one from happening. Tyre blowouts can be incredibly dangerous and lead to serious accidents that could involve multiple cars, so you need to maintain your vehicles and know when the right time to replace them is to prevent a blowout.