Imagine you’re driving down the road, and suddenly, you hear a loud pop and your wheel jerks in your hand. Chances are you’ve just blown a tire. Instead of panicking, prepare yourself with these tips from Garrett’s Towing & Recovery and make sure you know what to do when you blow a tire and need 24-hour roadside assistance.

• Stay Calm: Don’t slam on the breaks, yank your wheel all over the place, and start screaming. Stay calm and remember that you’re in control, and you can handle the situation like a pro.
• Accelerate: Your gut reaction is going to be to hit the brakes as hard as you can. Instead, when you hear that fateful pop and feel the wheel jerk, just for a moment, push on the accelerator to keep your car straight.
• Drive Straight: Do not turn your wheel to get off the road immediately. Your car is in a lurch, and the best thing you can do for it is to keep it driving in a straight line. Then, you can get to the side of the road slowly.
• Coast: After making sure your car is headed in a straight line, ease off the gas and start coasting to the shoulder. Don’t brake. Don’t keep driving full speed. Take your feet off every pedal and make your way to the shoulder in a relatively straight line.
• Signal: Once you get to the side of the road, don’t immediately hop out of your car. Instead, activate your emergency flashers in order to let other drivers know that your vehicle is disabled.
• Change Your Tire: If you’re on a freeway or highway, don’t try to change your tire on your own. Call Garrett’s Towing & Recovery for these tire changes because it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re on a side street that isn’t as busy, and you know how to change your tire, get to work. Once you have the spare in place, get the tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

When your tire blows out, it can be frustrating and scary, but if you know how to handle the situation, you’ll be able to get the problem fixed safely. Whenever you have car trouble, give the professionals at Garret’s Towing & Recovery a call at (336) 476-3153. Visit their website for more information on the services they offer.