It’s not a happy thing for you that your tire explodes at high speed, especially if it’s a front-wheel tire. But how is this possible?
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What causes a tire explosion?
A tire can blowout as a result of an accident where you hit a curb or hit a pothole at high-speed or from a certain angle that can cause damage.
Such an explosion may also occur due to the collision of an obstacle existing on high-speed roads, such as express roads or the highway. In general, a small hole in the tire through which the air is released slowly will give the driver a warning during deflation.
Among the signs that may warn you that air is being lost from the tire, are the trembling of the tires or difficulties in maintaining the steering.
A tire blowout is more dangerous when the air is released faster without any warning and the immediate result is the loss of control over the car.
If you are driving the car and you notice pieces of the tire on the side of the road or even on the road, these indications are most likely the result of a crack on the tire.
What should you do in case of a blowout?
As a general rule, when something is wrong with the car, you should remain calm. A person who manages to stay calm will think much more clearly and will be able to make a better decision than when panic takes over. Even if your instinct tells you to press the brake pedal, this is the last thing you need to do if you experience a tire explosion.
First of all, you have to stay with your foot on the gas pedal, but not to increase the speed, just keep the car at a constant speed. If one of the rear tires is deflated and you press the brake pedal, there is a high chance that you will lose control over the car.
Stopping the car in case of a tire blowout
Your task is, of course, to stop the car as quickly as possible, but in such a way that you do not endanger the other traffic participants, whether we are talking about other drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians.
You have to stop the car by being in full control and making safe maneuvers. If the tire blows out you will have about 25% of the contact with the ground. Because of this, the car will become much more unstable. Try to avoid any steering change or sudden braking.
While maintaining a constant speed, you must maintain control of the car by keeping both hands on the steering wheel. It is very important that before you make a decision and make a move look in the mirrors to see if there are other cars around you, especially when you are on the highway. It is best to release the acceleration very easily but avoid braking.
If you have a car with a manual transmission, you have to change gears from the upper gears to the lower gears to reduce the speed of the car (perform an engine break).
Lift the foot off the gas pedal to slow the car down. This way the car will decelerate by itself. In any case, try to find a safe area to stop the car on the side of the road or on the emergency lane.
Runflat tires help in case your tire blows out because they allow you to run at certain distances, but at high speeds, if the blowout occurred, is enough for an inexperienced driver to lose control of the car.
Useful tips in case of a tire blowout
- Stay calm;
- Do not do any sudden moves with the car because of the fear. If you feel that the car pulls aside, correct the position without rushing, otherwise you will lose control of the car, especially at high speeds.
- Do not brake suddenly. It seems counterintuitive, but applying brakes at high speeds over 130 km / h (80 miles/h) will have the effect of making the car unstable, and this is the last thing you want. Obviously, if there are obstacles in front of you, you may not have a choice and you will have to brake gradually. But, in their absence, take the leg off the brake!
- Use the engine brake. If space allows you, your goal will be to reduce the speed of the car so that you can safely brake to stop without skidding. So your first action is to get your foot off the gas pedal and downgrade as fast as your engine allows.
- Make sure you have where to stop the car. Do not rush to stop the car on the road or in a dangerous place. Pull it a few meters until you reach a place where you can safely change the wheel. Your life is more valuable than the possible damage caused by running on the remaining tire. So until then maintain a constant speed that will allow you full control of the car in those conditions
- And by the way, never run at speeds higher than those supported by the tires in question, written as clearly as possible on the tires.
Useful tips to avoid tire explosion
A tire blowout can be a terrifying experience, even for an experienced driver. An explosion can often be unavoidable, but a little maintenance and checking can help prevent such an unpleasant experience.
- Check the tire depth regularly. It should be at least 5 mm to be safe and to comply with the law.
- Check the tire surface for cuts or swelling both inside and outside. These can lead to an explosion.
- Avoid using old tires. Even if a tire is in good condition, the tire will deteriorate over time. It is recommended to change the tires older than five years, even if they have been used a little and seem to be in good condition.
