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It can be alarming when your tire blows out on the highway, especially if you’re not sure what to do next. To get back on the road, you’ll need to fix the flat or call a tow truck. However, while you wait for help to arrive, here are a few steps to take to ensure you stay safe. 

4 Steps to Take After a Tire Blowout

1. Get to Safety 

If the tire goes flat, you may need to drive on the rim shortly to get to safety. Pull off to the shoulder of the road or onto a low-traffic roadway if it’s within a few hundred feet. Do not get out of the vehicle; you’re safer in the car. 

2. Alert Other Drivers

tow truck Pope County ARAlways put on your flashing lights if you’re stopped on a roadway. These emergency flashers alert people that you’re in distress and let them know to slow down. Drivers should move over to leave a lane of space between you and oncoming traffic to ensure you’re safe, though not everyone obeys this law.

3. Swap Out the Tire

If you have a spare tire and you’re in a safe location with little traffic, you can try to fix the flat yourself. Use a jack to lift the car six inches above the ground and remove the hubcap. Then, remove the lug nuts with a lug wrench and pull the blown tire toward you. Replace it with the spare tire before re-installing the lug bolts and tightening them manually. Finally, lower the car back to the ground and use the wrench to tighten all the bolts.

4. Call a Tow Truck

Many people aren’t comfortable changing their tires or don’t have the equipment to do it on their own. If you’d rather have a professional handle the task or suspect your rim is damaged, contact a tow truck right away after making sure that you’re safe on the road. 

 

If you’re driving and experience a tire blowout, contact Cogswell Towing in Pope County, AR, to hire a tow truck. Their emergency service has been in operation since 1947, providing roadside assistance in the River Valley area, including Danville and Morrilton. Call the Russellville location at (479) 968-4665 or visit the website for information on their towing and wrecker services. 

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