One of the scariest situations a driver can be in on the road is having a tire blowout suddenly. Learn what to do if a tire blowout happens and how to avoid it occurring in the first place below.

What Causes Tire Blowouts?

A tire blowout can come suddenly and from varying causes. The quality of the tire may have degraded beyond its limit, there may be a puncture, or the tire may be underinflated or overinflated. The vehicle could also be overloaded and put too much pressure on the tire.

The most common cause of tire blowouts is a degraded tire that’s too old and worn. This kind of tire is susceptible to exploding from excessive weight or a sharp object on the road. Older and underinflated tires flex more while driving, which causes the thinner sidewalls of the tire to touch the road, abrasively irritating the tire until it pops.

How Can Drivers Prevent Tire Blowouts?

The best safety practice for avoiding tire blowouts is for drivers to maintain and observe their tires. Underinflated tires are at high risk of blowing out, so drivers should never drive on tires below the recommended PSI.

But drivers should be wary of overinflation, too. Overinflating your tires impacts your vehicle in many ways, including increasing the risk of a tire blowout. Always keep your vehicle’s tires in the recommended PSI range outlined in the owner’s manual, regularly check their tread depth to ensure they’re safe, and have them rotated every 5,000 miles.

What To Do if Your Tire Blows Out While Driving?

We’ve covered how to avoid a tire blowout, but what should drivers do if it happens? The suddenness of a tire blowout can be frightening and startling, but it’s imperative to stay calm as a driver. You’ll want to slam on the brakes to come to an immediate stop, but refrain from doing this. Hitting the brakes will likely only cause you to lose more control of your vehicle.

When a blowout happens, you should gradually accelerate your car and keep it straight to maintain control. The car will naturally decelerate from the busted tire. As it does, you can gently apply the brakes, turn on the emergency hazards, and pull over to the side of the road at a safe and controlled speed. Above all, stay calm, and don’t overreact!

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