How to Handle and Prevent A Tyre Burst or Blowout

Without any shadows of doubt, a tyre blowout ranks among the highest on drivers’ list of fears, especially on the highway due to high accident possibility. In the worst scenario, a tyre burst could lead to a complete loss of car control, even on high safety vehicles such as SUVs & MUVs.

Thanks to advances in tyre technology, a blowout is becoming less and less frequent occurrence. However, it could still happen sometimes. If you find yourself in such circumstances, follow our tips below can save you from serious car crashes.

A tyre burst can be dangerous when it happens on the highway

1. How to handle a tyre burst

When a tyre burst occurs, the first rule of thumb is to not be panic. Take a deep breath and follow these steps below

1.1 Do NOT slam on the brake pedal

Ironically, this is easier said than done, as our brains are hardwired to instinctively jam the brake pedal in an emergency. Hard braking would immediately be the worst thing since it will further imbalance the vehicle and throw it out of control.

Slamming on the brake pedal can cause many unexpected situations

1.2 Maintaining a safe driving speed

The lower your speed, the higher your chance of survival. An 80 - 90 kph blowout would definitely be far less dramatic than 140 - 150 kph one. In fact, if you survive from tyre burst at 150 kph, then you had better consider it a gift of God or a stroke of luck.

 Remember to maintain the safe speed

1.3 Do NOT abruptly take your foot off the accelerator

Instead, do it slowly & gradually. As the matter of fact, Michelin highly recommends that you maintain accelerator input momentarily, before releasing it slowly. That deceleration force from a blown tyre is so strong can cause your car to slow down rapidly. If you have engaged cruise control, be sure to disengage it immediately.

Slowly take your foot off the accelerator

1.4. Do NOT attempt to over-correct

All you have to do is just maintaining the vehicle’s stability. A rollover could have happened when you try to take a sharp yank of the steering wheel. Even when you have gained control and are slowly moving to a safe parking spot, you should still keep the stability in the mildest way.

1.5. Keep your car pointed straight as much as you can

You cannot imagine how dangerous to corner or turn with a blown tyre car since it will greatly upset the car’s composure. When your car is pulling to one side, you might need to pull the steering in the opposite direction to keep it going straight.

Keep a straight direction as long as possible

1.6. Allow your car to gradually coast to a stop

Use engine braking if necessary. Lightly engage the brakes only when your car has decelerated to a slow speed. Use the turn indicators and pull over safely off the road. Drive on the bare metal wheel if you have to, but do NOT stop in the middle of the road as you run the risk of getting rear-ended by a speeding car. Remember to activate your hazard lights when stopped.

Gradually coast to stop is a smart choice

2. Other Important guides from IndianAuto:

• Always drive with both hands on the steering wheel. Do not be distracted by anything. It’s difficult to control the car in an emergency situation if you have only one hand on the wheel.

• Be fully aware that your car will behave differently with a blown tyre because your car now just has only 3 contact patches with the road, instead of 4. 

• If you drive an SUV or MUV, the probability of a rollover is extremely high. SUVs also have a greater chance of losing stability and steering control. Maintaining a conservative cruising speed is recommended.

• The situation would be worsened if the roads are wet. Therefore, maintaining a lower driving speed is the best choice. On the flip side, the odds of an overheating tyre are also lesser in rain or cold weather.

• Above all, try to remain as calm as possible. You shouldn't be in the panic station, and you certainly shouldn't overreact.

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