What should you do if you have a tire blowout?

Picture this: You’re driving to the supermarket, listening to your favorite song, when all of a sudden you hear a loud bang and clunking sound. Almost immediately, your vehicle becomes a bit harder to maneuver, and you realize that one of your tires has blown out.

Whether this is the first time you’ve dealt with a flat tire, or you’ve been in this predicament before, it’s a bit unsettling. To help you stay as safe as possible when this happens — and to prevent future tire blowouts — check out the following tips.

What to Do if Your Tire Blows Out

One thing that makes a tire blowout particularly concerning is that it can happen anywhere. You might be driving down a residential street at 25 miles per hour, or on a road trip cruising down the highway. 

Regardless of where the tire blowout takes place, the most important thing is to stay as calm and keep the following suggestions in mind so you will know what to do if your tire blows out:

• Don’t slam on the brakes. While this might be your first reaction, resist the urge. It may cause you to lose control of your compromised vehicle. Keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel and maintain control of the car, accelerating slightly to help stabilize the vehicle.
• Turn on your hazards. To alert the drivers around you that something is amiss, turn on your hazard lights as soon as you can safely do so.
• Carefully slow down and pull over. As you keep your foot off the brake, let your vehicle slow down on its own; then you can start moving toward the side of the road.

If you experience a tire blowout, it is important to avoid stopping in the middle of the road as this could cause a serious accident. Use your blinkers and carefully check your mirrors and blind spots before pulling over either on the side of the freeway or a side street or parking lot.

Once you’ve stopped, check your surroundings to be sure you can leave your vehicle safely. Don’t forget to leave your hazard lights on to alert other drivers. If you can safely leave your car and have cones, flags, or flares, you can set them up around your vehicle.

Call for assistance if you need help changing your tire. If you have insurance through a company like AAA Auto Insurance or Stonewood Insurance, both of which cover roadside assistance, contact them to ask for help or a tow to a mechanic.

What causes tire blowouts?

Several factors can cause a tire to go flat suddenly. For instance, your car’s tires may be old with worn-down treads, compromising the tires over time. They may also be underinflated, or you might have driven over some debris that unknowingly punctured one of the tires. 

If your car recently carried an exceptionally heavy load — maybe you helped a friend move, and loaded your trunk with boxes — it may have put too much strain on the tires or exceeded their weight limit. 

Other tire blowout causes include driving your car infrequently. The United States Department of Transportation also notes that exposure to sunlight and warmer climates, especially in the more southern parts of the United States, will contribute to your tires’ aging.

How to Avoid a Tire Blowout

Tire maintenance is the best place to start. By being proactive about your tire maintenance, you can reduce the chances that you will have a tire blowout. 

This includes making sure your tires have the proper pressure, regularly inspecting them for wear and tread depth, and getting them rotated (and balanced, if needed) every 5,000 miles. Also, never overload your vehicle.

Does insurance cover tire blowouts?

If a tire blowout leads to an accident or some type of damage to your car, comprehensive insurance would typically cover it. When a tire goes flat due to a defect, it may be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Does car insurance cover flat tires? No, you wouldn’t typically file a claim for a blown-out tire that does not cause any other damage. This is because you’ll need to pay your deductible first, and repairing or replacing one tire typically won’t exceed your deductible amount.

The best course of action is to contact your insurance provider to go over your policy. You might also speak with them about adding roadside assistance. This coverage would include towing services in the event of a tire blowout.

How to Prepare for Tire Blowouts

Even the most well-maintained tire may run over a nail and experience a blowout. But in many cases, flat tires can be prevented. 

By regularly maintaining your tires and replacing them when the treads get too low, you may lessen your risk of a blowout. Also, keep in mind what to do if a tire blows out, so you can safely get off the road and get help.