What to Do When You Have a Tire Blowout While Driving

You’re driving along when suddenly you hear a loud clunk and start to feel your car pulling aggressively to one side. You’re probably going through a tire blowout. Blowouts are when a tire bursts and loses air pressure explosively. If you have a tire blowout, it can be frightening and, more importantly, dangerous.

Help keep yourself safe on the road by knowing what to do if you have a tire blowout. Learn more about why blowouts happen, what to do if they occur, and how to prevent them in the future.

Why do Tire Blowouts Happen?

Tire blowouts can happen for many reasons. When your tire is punctured or ruptured and suddenly loses inflation, you can have a blowout. The most common causes of blowouts include:

• Low Tire Pressure: Drivers are surprised to learn that underinflating a tire is often the top cause of tire blowouts. When a tire is under-inflated, the components of the tire flex more than their design allows. There’s also an increase in friction between the tire and the road. The heat erodes the tire’s materials.
• Overloading: Too much weight on the tires — especially if they’re underinflated — can put excess pressure on the components. Your tires may become overstrained, which can lead to blowouts.
• Potholes and Road Hazards: Hitting a curb, pothole, or nail in the road can cause serious damage to your tires. Blunt forces, like hitting a pothole, could damage the interior components of the tire. Sharp objects like nails or broken glass could puncture the tire walls and cause a blowout.

Recognizing a Blowout

What does a tire blowout feel and sound like? Although each situation is different, it’s important to recognize the common signs of a blowout. The first thing you’ll likely notice is a loud noise, usually like an explosion. After the initial loud sound, there might be a “whooshing” sound as the air escapes your tire. Once the air is gone, your tire will likely sound like it’s slapping against the road instead of riding on top of it.

Your car will start to pull aggressively to the side with the tire blowout. You might notice the steering wheel is difficult to control or that your seat is vibrating.

What Does a Tire Blowout Sound Like?

A tire blowout typically involves lots of noise. First, you’ll hear a loud bang or boom as the tire explosively loses air. This can sound like a gunshot or explosion when the incredibly durable structure of the tire suddenly tears itself apart. This sharp bang is immediately followed by a hissing or whooshing sound as the air contained in the tire escapes. A loud flapping or thumping occurs as the remaining rubber hits the road and the vehicle’s undercarriage. Finally, as you struggle to steer while the car shakes and shimmies, you may hear a rumbling sound as the car’s suspension and alignment strain under the loss of stability and balance caused by the tire blowout.

What Does a Tire Blowout Feel Like?

If you experience a tire blowout, it will be sudden, without warning, and highly dangerous, especially if you are driving at a high speed. It can cause you to lose control of the vehicle. It’s essential to remain calm and not panic so you can regain control of the car and avoid an accident. Let’s see what you’re likely to feel with a tire blowout:

• Sudden Loss of Control: As the tire explodes, you will likely struggle to control the vehicle as it suddenly pulls sharply to the side of the damaged tire.
• Vibration and Shaking: When the shredded tire flaps against the road and undercarriage, you will feel the thudding or shaking through the steering wheel, the seat, and even the floorboards as the car becomes unstable.
• Heavy Steering: However smooth and responsive your steering usually is, it will instantly become stiff and unresponsive following a tire blowout. You may feel the steering wheel fight you as you attempt to regain control.
• Harsh Ride: Following a tire blowout, the rim may contact the road, delivering a very rough and uncomfortable ride. The car may shimmy and sway unevenly.

If you have a tire blowout, you should fight to remain calm so you can safely pull to the side of the road outside of traffic.

How to Drive Through a Tire Blowout

If you experience a tire blowout, follow these steps:

• Stay Calm: It’s easy to panic when things go wrong on the road, but it’s important to stay calm. Take a deep breath and focus on what you need to do.
• Grip the Wheel: Take a firm grip on the steering wheel so you have the highest level of control.
• Avoid the Brakes: Don’t slam on the brakes as soon as you feel a blowout. This could unbalance the car and make it even more difficult to control.
• Let Off the Gas: Gently take your foot off of the accelerator to slow your vehicle.
• Pull Over: Use your turn signal to indicate to other drivers you need to move to the side of the road. Safely change lanes until you’re in the outside lane. Look for a safe place to pull over and allow your car to slow. Once you’re in a safe spot and traveling under 20 miles per hour, gently apply the brakes until you come to a complete stop.
• Turn on Hazard Lights: Turn on your flashers to make yourself visible to other drivers on the road.
• Set the Parking Brake: Set your parking brake to help ensure your car stays put after coming to a stop.

What to Do After a Tire Blowout

After making it safely to the side of the road following a tire blowout, you’ll need to assess your tire damage and install your spare or contact roadside assistance. Safely change your tire using these tips:

• Check Your Surroundings: Don’t leave your vehicle until you’re sure it’s safe to do so. Carefully exit your vehicle when traffic allows it.
• Set Up Safety Markers: Along with your hazards, you can set up safety cones, flags, or road flares to make yourself more visible on the side of the road.
• Change Your Tire: Remove your damaged tire and install your spare tire. Be aware that the damaged tire will likely be extremely hot right after a blowout. Give it time to cool down before you try to remove it. After installing the spare tire, go slow and use your hazard lights. Most spare tires are not designed to drive long distances or at high speeds. Use the spare tire to get to a repair or tire shop for a new tire.

Tips to Avoid Tire Blowouts

Preventing tire blowouts begins with choosing the right tires for your car. It is critical to select tires with the correct load rating and speed rating for the size and weight of your vehicle. You’ll find these vehicle specifications on the driver’s side door post. The Tire and Loading Information label also includes details such as the recommended tire size and proper inflation pressure for both front and rear tires.

Regular tire maintenance is also essential to prevent tire blowouts. Check tire pressure and tread regularly as part of your routine car maintenance schedule at least monthly and when the weather changes. Temperature changes can significantly impact the air pressure in your tires. It’s a good idea to check the pressure seasonally when the weather turns hot, cold, wet, or icy. To evaluate the tread wear on each tire, use the penny test. Insert a penny with Lincoln’s head facing down into the tread. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too worn, and the tire should be replaced. Make it a habit to check your tires for damage and proper inflation each time you fill up at the gas station. A quick check could help you avoid a tire blowout.

Avoid carrying loads that are too heavy for your tires. For example, if you’re pulling a heavy trailer, check that your tires can handle the weight of your vehicle and the trailer. You may need to inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure to help lower your risk of a blowout.

Adding roadside assistance to your car insurance gives you peace of mind and can make your life much easier if you experience a tire blowout. Roadside assistance often includes tire change services. An expert will meet you at your vehicle and change your tire for you, or you can get a tow to the nearest repair shop if your car is too damaged from the blowout.

Being prepared for a tire blowout will make the experience less frightening. Remember to stay calm and focus on controlling your vehicle so you can safely navigate to the side of the road. Be sure you know how to change your tire or have roadside assistance so you’re not stuck on the roadside after your tire blowout.

Is a Tire Blowout Covered by Insurance?

A tire blowout may be covered by your insurance, depending on the cause and resulting damage. Comprehensive coverage can cover it if the blowout is caused by an external event, such as running over road debris, or if the blowout causes an accident. However, if the blowout results from poor maintenance, your insurance won’t cover it unless you have added a specific tire and wheel protection plan. That’s why routine car maintenance and tire checkups are critical to protect you, your passengers, and your car.