What To Do When Your Tire “Blows Out”
September 16th, 2009 by adminWhat To Do When Your Tire “Blows Out”
Would you know what to do if you had a blowout while driving? Most drivers have never gone through the experience and would likely react in the opposite manner than they should. Unfortunately, that reaction can lead to a serious traffic collision. In this article, I’ll explain the factors that can cause a tire to “blow out” (they might surprise you). I’ll also describe what you should do when it happens in order to maintain control of your vehicle.
Nature Of The Problem
It’s worth spending a moment to properly define a blowout. At its most basic, it is a rupture through which air quickly escapes to the point that the wheel is unable to support the weight of the vehicle. Aside from driving over a nail or any object that creates a large gash in the rubber, most people don’t realize how a blowout happens.
A lot of motorists think a blowout occurs because there is too much pressure in the tire. They believe the pressure builds until the rubber develops a weak spot at which point it ruptures. In truth, the problem is due to the tire having too little pressure, not too much. When this happens, the rubber flexes beyond its normal elasticity. If the vehicle is overloaded, friction and heat can build up to the point where the steel netting and the rubber separate. A rupture becomes imminent.
Maintaining Control And Ensuring Your Safety
One of the reasons many people do not know how to react properly to a blowout is because the quality of tires sold today is much higher than the quality of those sold a generation ago. They rarely blow out. The drawback is that it happens so seldom that few drivers know how to respond in a way that lets them maintain control of their car.
When a blowout occurs, a motorist will instinctively remove their foot from the gas pedal, press the brake pedal, and try to maneuver the car to the side of the road. On the surface, this sounds appropriate. However, doing those things will actually reduce the level of control the motorist has on his vehicle.
The proper procedure to follow is to keep your foot on the gas pedal when a tire blows out, even though doing so seems counterintuitive. You’ll likely feel a pulling sensation to the side. Counter it. If your car pulls to the right, gently guide the steering wheel to the left; that will help you maintain control. You’ll find that your car stabilizes after a few moments. Once it does, decelerate slowly while guiding your vehicle over to the side of the road.
By keeping the right amount of pressure in your tires (check your owner’s manual for the right psi), you can avoid experiencing a blowout. That said, it’s impossible to plan for everything, including nails and other sharp objects on the road. If it happens, follow the steps above to ensure your safety and that of your passengers.
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