What to do if you get a tyre blowout
A tyre blowout will be sudden and scary, and is a very dangerous situation to have to deal with. Fortunately, with improved tyre design and good vehicle maintenance, tyre blowouts are less common than they used to be. However, it is still important, and potentially life-saving, to know what to do in the event of a tyre blowout and how to reduce the likelihood of this happening.
How to deal with a tyre blowout
A tyre blowout is not an innocuous event. You will notice a tyre blowout instantly as there will be a loud noise from your tyre bursting, and stability and handling will immediately worsen. One of the most important things in this situation is to keep calm and collected as overreacting or panicking will only reduce your ability to deal with your predicament. If a tyre blowout occurs you should:
- Suppress the urge to hit the brake pedal. Braking in this situation will only exacerbate the issue of reduced stability as your vehicle won’t be able to brake evenly across all wheels anymore.
- Hold on to the steering wheel tightly to maintain control of the vehicle. A blowout will cause your car to pull to one side but to prevent this dangerous veering you just need to be steadfast in your control of the wheel.
- Gradually decrease acceleration, allowing the momentum to slow naturally if possible. Changing down gears, easing off the accelerator slowly and very light braking should let you come to a controlled stop.
- Aim for a suitable place to come to a stop. This’ll likely be the hard shoulder or just the side of the road. Try to signal whilst carrying out this manoeuvre to give necessary warning to other vehicles.
Tips for preventing a tyre blowout
Reducing the likelihood of a tyre blowout from happening can be achieved with some simple maintenance tasks and good practice. Two of the main causes of a tyre blowout are poor tyre condition and bad driving habits. To remove the risk of these factors:
- Regularly check your tyres. Tyres should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in the central ¾ of your tyre, and no lumps or cracks.
- Keep your tyres properly inflated. You can check your car’s recommended tyre pressure in your owner’s handbook and top up pressure at most petrol stations.
- Avoid incidents that are likely to cause damage to your tyres. This includes hitting potholes, debris, mounting the kerb and scuffing your tyres, especially when travelling at speed.
If you are looking to replace worn or damaged tyres to ensure safe driving, the professionals at Munster Tyres can provide you with a reliable and competitively priced new set. With many years of experience and a highly trained team, if you are in need of replacements, repairs, servicing or MOTs, we are sure to be able to provide an effective and efficient solution. For a trustworthy garage in West London, get in touch with our team today.