What to Do After a Tire Blowout
A tire blowout can be scary, or even dangerous at highway speeds. Knowing what to do when your tire suddenly comes apart can help you keep your vehicle under control, potentially preventing an accident that could cause serious injury. Below are a few tips for staying safe if your tires blow out, and how to avoid this unfortunate situation in the first place.
What Causes Blowouts?
Underinflated tires create friction with the road, which generates more heat than usual and eventually weakens the rubber. At high speeds, gradual air pressure loss can lead to a blowout as the rubber flies away from the steel core. Keeping your tires inflated and checking the air pressure at least once per month can help prevent most avoidable blowouts.
Impact damage, such as running over an obstacle or hitting the curb, can also destroy the rubber. Depending on what you hit, the blowout might occur immediately or a few hundred miles down the road. Avoid obstacles whenever possible, and have your tires checked by an expert if you suspect they have been damaged.
What to Do After a Blowout
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our first instinct when a tire blows out may be to slam on the brakes, but this can send your vehicle careening into the other lane. Instead, take your foot off the gas and let your car gradually slow down. When you’re under 30 mph, pull over to the side of the road, only using the brake when you feel like you have the vehicle under control.
Once you’ve come to a stop, only exit the vehicle if it’s safe to do so. Make sure you turn your car’s hazard lights on to signal to other drivers that you are stopped. Otherwise, stay in the car and call for roadside assistance.
If a blowout has left you stranded, the experts at 21 Ave Tire Repair will help you get back on the road as safely as possible. Their shop includes the widest inventory of tires in Paterson, NJ, and proudly offers mobile service to drivers in need throughout the area. Visit their website for an overview of their services, or call (973) 225-0923 to make an appointment or request roadside assistance.
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