Action for rear tyre blowouts:
Your car will tend to weave about, especially at speeds over 80kmph. The best action is to hold the steering wheel firmly and let the car slow down by itself.
Your immediate instinct might be to brake, but if the car is starting to move sideways braking will make matters worse- causing the car to spin. Sudden braking is the single worst thing that you can do if a tyre blows out.
Keep looking ahead and turn your steering wheel to keep in a straight line. Maintain momentum by accelerating and then ease off the accelerator to slow down. Accelerating is not done to speed the car up, simply to maintain momentum and minimise the risk and effect of a side slide. Changing to a lower gear might help in a front wheel drive car if you can control the steering with one hand.
Action for front tyre blowouts
Front tyre punctures will cause the car to pull heavily to one side. Steer firmly to correct the pull.
Leave the foot brake alone, if there is space ahead, concentrate on steering and allow the car to lose speed naturally. If you use the foot brake after gaining initial control, be very gentle.
Pulling the parking brake on and off repeatedly can help you to slow down but care must be taken not to lock the back wheels because this could cause the car to pivot around the damaged wheel and spin. Your main aim is to keep the car on course and lose speed naturally.
Burst tyres are dead. You can drive very slowly to a safe place but do not attempt to go any further than is absolutely necessary.
Repairable punctures can turn into irreparable tyres if you drive on them. Read your car’s handbook for information about jacking your car safely and changing a wheel. If you have a space-saver spare tyre, keep your speed down – your car will not be as stable as with the full-size tyre.
Please check your tyre regularly for both pressure and condition, or call into TyreAware for a free tyre safety check!