If you have a tire blowout on the highway, here is the proper thing to do!
Safely handling a tire blowout at highway speed is a tough skill to master. If you don’t know what to do when your tire blows out, you can end up in trouble. The good news is that doing nothing is often the best thing that you can do. Even if you’re cruising down the freeway when your tire blows out and panic starts to set in, do your best to stay calm and handle the situation smoothly.
If a front tire blows out, your car will pull you to the left or right as the steering wheel starts to vibrate. If a rear tire blows out, you’ll feel the car wobbling back and forth. These are the reasons that make it necessary for you to know the proper thing to do if your car’s tire blows out:
What are the reasons for tire blowout?
- Incorrect tire pressure – The majority of tire blowouts are caused by low tire pressure. Due to the low pressure, the tire gets overheated as it flexes beyond its limits causing the rubber to break away from the tire’s internal structure and steel cord reinforcement. This is more likely to happen when you are traveling at a high speed. Also, during summers, the pavement is hot and if the tire is underinflated, it may heat up and burst.
- Old tires – If the treads on the tires are worn out and there are cracks in the rubber, it may lead to a tire blowout.
What you should do if your car’s tire blows out on the highway?
- Keep a firm grip on the wheel.
- Don’t brake. Braking may cause you to skid and lose control of the vehicle. While you’re trying to regain control of the car, try to maintain your speed. Steer left or right to stay in your lane, and take your foot off the accelerator to slow down slowly.
- Pull over to the side of the road. Put your indicator on and move across traffic to a safe spot on the side of the road. Once you reach 20 miles per hour or under, you can tap the brakes to come to a stop.
- Once you’ve stopped, apply your parking brake.
- Turn on your emergency lights. Lights alert others that your car is disabled so that they slow down and move around you.
- Put on your spare tire or call your Roadside Assistance service.
How to prevent tire blowout on the highway?
Proper tire maintenance is the most effective way to prevent tire blowouts. You must check the tire pressure regularly and ensure that it is in accordance with the pounds per square inch (PSI) for your car.
In the United States, cars sold after 2007, are fitted with an electronic tire pressure monitoring system. It alerts you if the tire pressure is either above or below the safe level. However, if you own an older car, you must monitor the tire pressure yourself regularly.
Check for wear and tear and cracks in the car tire and replace old tires if needed.
Does auto insurance cover tire blowout?
Certain types of sudden and accidental damage to car tires may be covered by auto insurance. Whether you are covered in a tire blowout depends on your auto insurance coverage. You must talk to the insurance provider to know about the coverages and the exclusions.
Read:
- Effect of your relationship on auto insurance
- Does auto insurance cover legal fees
- Difference between car insurance and car warranty
Your tires are more likely to blow out if they have a lot of miles on them. It’s wise to check your tires for wear before a road trip and to double-check that they aren’t underinflated. Most blowouts happen when driving on underinflated tires at high speeds. Checking your tire pressure once a month could prevent this disaster!
When accidents happen, you’ll be glad that you took the time to secure the right auto insurance. Click here to call or Get started on your tailored policy from the insurance professionals at Chambers & Company Insurance Brokers. We are there to secure the right auto policy and guide you through the claims process.