The scenario in which a tire undergoes a blowout or a puncture while driving is one of the most frightening nightmares for any driver. Such a turn on the road can seriously endanger the life and health of both the driver and the passengers. Unfortunately, a blowout or a puncture is a very real possibility from which humans are not protected. There is a more optimistic scenario for those with run-flat tires that allow drivers to reach the nearest service center unharmed.
But, what measures can we take as drivers when a car with ordinary tires faces such circumstances? How do we react if the tire fails at high speed? How do we protect our lives and the lives of people around us?
Every driver must know the answers to these questions. And even if we don't have much time to think, we have to react as promptly as possible in such conditions. Today we are talking about vehicle handling during a tire puncture or a blowout. The recommendations in this article can save your life in such a situation. For this reason, remember all the suggestions here, and I hope you never end up applying them.
The Power Of The Survival Instinct
Regardless of all the possible protection methods, the first factor that will jump to save us will be our survival instinct. This natural reaction plays a significant role in circumstances where our life is in danger.
The bad part is that no one knows exactly how each person's instinct will be activated in a certain situation of danger. Some people trigger the self-defense system, looking for ways out of the dangerous environment. Others arm themselves with courage and fight directly against danger as against a real enemy.
Very often, drivers tend to instinctively turn the steering wheel in the direction opposite to the danger to protect themselves. They do this recklessly, without taking into account that they could expose the passengers to direct danger. And there is nothing to blame; instinct is an absolutely unpredictable phenomenon and acts beyond any control.
In positive scenarios, instinct acts in our favor, often saving our lives. Thus, we press the brake suddenly to avoid an unexpected and dangerous impact. So, this is a natural mechanism that regardless of how it works, has the purpose of protecting our safety. Some of the recommendations in this article cannot be carried out on an instinctive level. However, it is necessary to consider them because the brain can instinctively look for useful information in just a few milliseconds when faced with an emergency.
Tire Puncture VS Tire Blowout
First of all, let's see what makes these 2 situations different. We all understand that these are possible while driving, but not everyone knows what exactly these 2 threats mean.
The less risky threat is tire puncture. This occurs after a cut or damage to the tire that leads to its gradual deflation. Tire puncture does not necessarily happen only after a cut. This can also happen when a tire valve is damaged and it begins releasing air.
Either way, the idea is that the wheel releases the air inside through any hole created by an impact. In most cases, drivers can bring the car to a safe stop if they handle the situation correctly.
Blowout! Watch Out!
The scenario of a blowout is a more drastic and dangerous one because it supposes an immediate and somewhat violent deflation of the tire. This can happen after an aggressive impact with an obstacle on the road or a faulty tire. Such collapse leads to the total loss of tire integrity, leading to an increased risk of accidents.
How Do You Know The Tire Suffered A Puncture Or A Blowout?
Several symptoms are letting you know that the tire underwent a puncture while driving. Consider them and stop the car for a detailed visual inspection if in doubt.
-the steering wheel becomes shuddering. You start to feel how the steering wheel seems to vibrate. This may be the effect of a flat tire;
- you control the steering wheel harder. The steering wheel requires unusual additional effort. Such a scenario is usually characteristic of slow puncture of the tire;
- you feel how the car steers to the left or right. Even if you keep the steering wheel straight, it seems to pull in one direction or another, generating effort in handling it. The scenario is specific to the average puncture of the tire;
- you lose control over the car, it turns aggressively in different directions. This scenario is specific for tire blowouts when the tire blows and disintegrates upon puncture.
If the tire puncture has fairly mild symptoms, the tire blowout is a violent process that can generate a loss of control over the steering wheel.
Recommendations To Keep In Mind
We would all like a tire blowout to happen at any time, except for when we are driving at high speed. However, this process can happen at any time and you must be as prepared as possible.
Regardless of the danger you face while driving, you must try your best to remain as calm and lucid as possible. The lucidity of the mind will allow you to react correctly in an emergency.
You have to understand that once a tire undergoes a blowout, the whole car will become severely unstable and difficult to handle and control. In this context, it is important not to force the steering wheel in any direction to restore stability. On the contrary, you will destabilize it even more with any sudden turn.
Get Yourself Together
Try to regain control of the car, maneuvering the steering wheel as little as possible and centering the direction forward. As far as possible, keep away from other cars in traffic and on the road verge. Being near the road verge can derail the car off the road.
Hold the steering wheel tightly with both hands and feel in control of it. Also, keep in mind the rearview mirrors to make sure there are no obstacles near you.
What matters most is your reaction from the very first moments once the tire has blown out. You have to realize that it is not a good idea to immediately take your foot off the accelerator. By doing so, all the weight of the car will suddenly go from the rear to the front tires, which complicates the situation even more.
It is not excluded that with a tire blowout, the car will start to swerve. I know that instinctively, you will want to slam on the brakes. But try to refrain so as not to make the situation worse. More than that, try to keep the accelerator pedal because, in this way, the car regains its stability.
I know it's hard to believe that such techniques can help. But believe me, these recommendations are confirmed by specialists, even if they contradict your instinct.
Slamming On The Brakes Is Not An Option
I know that the temptation to break is extremely high, and it seems as logical and wise as possible. But violent braking generates major pressure on the front axle. In the context in which the front tire was the one affected, the pressure and weight on the axle will lead to even greater pressure on the punctured tire. Consequently, the rim of the punctured tire can begin digging into the road, causing the car to overturn.
Sudden braking is not an option even when the punctured tire is on the rear axle. The drag factor is likely to increase in such a scenario and the car will severely lose its balance. The steering wheel control will become defective and the car is likely to swerve and spin 360 degrees.
So, while keeping the car under the accelerator pedal, try to maneuver it with gentle turns of the steering wheel towards a safe area turning the emergency gang on.
Once you feel that you have regained control over the car, you can carefully and gently reduce the speed, taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Do not intervene in the slowing down process, but rather let the engine gear down the speed until you reach the area where you feel safe and can stop the car.
Once the danger has already passed, you can either replace the tire by yourself, request an evacuator, or ask for a helping hand to change the defective tire.
Final Notes
We hope that these recommendations will never be necessary. However, you must get familiar with them, just in case. The danger in case of a tire blowout is imminent in the very first few moments until you restore the stability of the vehicle. So it is important to be as vigilant and aware as possible in those first moments to get out of the difficulty you got yourself into. Your instinct may think that you should proceed differently. However, traffic safety experts conclude that these measures are the safest ones from a physical and mechanical point of view. May your driving be safe!
Tire Puncture vs Blowout: FAQs
Can a Tire Puncture Cause a Blowout?
The short answer is yes, a puncture in a tire can lead to a tire blowout. However, this does not mean that any punctured tire will necessarily cause a blowout. The tire blowout occurs when the tire damage is too great and when the tire continues to be subjected to abuse. Additional friction or keeping rolling on a broken road increases the risk of a potential blowout. Specialists recommend that drivers take measures when they detect a puncture in their tire. This can be solved by patching, technical service, or tire replacement. Blowouts are also likely outside of a puncture, for example when the vehicle runs at too high a speed and hits a sharp obstacle or when the tire is in poor condition.
What is The Difference Between a Flat Tire and a Blowout?
If we talk about flat tires, this mainly refers to the loss of tire pressure. The tire can still roll on the road even if this is not recommended. A flat tire is usually caused by punctures that drivers can treat by patching which allows further use. But if we talk about tire blowout, it refers more to an explosion through which the air comes out immediately and aggressively. After a blowout, the tire remains rarely usable due to severe damage. In most cases, drivers have to replace the blown-out tire with a new one as it is no longer viable nor safe for further use.
How Bad is a Tire Blowout?
The danger of a tire blowout lies in the fact that drivers can easily lose control of the vehicle. The tire deteriorates so much that the vehicle starts to pull to the right or left or drive chaotically. Unlike tire puncture in which air leakage occurs gradually, the blowout is characterized by sudden and unexpected air loss with subsequent severe tire damage. In most cases, a tire blowout cannot be subject to repair.
Does a Flat Tire Always Mean a Puncture?
Tires don't go flat for no reason. In most cases, the main reason is a puncture in them. However, that is not the only reason. The tire can sometimes go flat due to a faulty valve stem that allows gradual air leakage.
Is a Tire Blowout Loud?
Usually yes, but it's not a rule set in stone though. In most cases, a tire blowout generates a pretty loud boom that the driver feels strongly in the cabin. This boom usually confuses the driver and makes him panic. After the boom, the driver usually hears the tire deflating rapidly, which emits a specific sound of air discharge. However, there are other scenarios in which the tire blowout may look different from the scenario above, depending on the severity of the problem.
Can a Tire Blowout At Low Speeds?
Even if less often, a blowout can occur even at a relatively low speed. One of the premises for a tire blowout is its condition. If the tire is in bad condition and its sidewall is compromised, the blowout can even occur when the vehicle is standing still.
Can You Drive on a Blowout?
It is not at all recommended to continue driving following a blowout. The safest thing to do is to slow down gradually to the nearest safe place. The severely damaged tire will not allow you to drive at speed. What you have to do is counter-steer to balance in the direction you want to go until you stop definitively. Don't forget no brake slamming! You better pull the brakes gradually and intermittently to gain traction. Your goal is to stop on the roadside safe and sound.
Why Trust Us?
While we don't like to brag about our accomplishments, here you have some humble reasons to trust the NeoTires team:
- we have been in the tire industry for more than 5 years. During this time, we became professionals in this field providing high-quality products and services;
- our team concentrates experts in the automotive field, qualified mechanics, and trained customer service representatives who work for a common goal: provide top-notch assistance in all tire-related matters;
- we collaborate with reputable tire brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Hankook, etc... with which we establish attractive offers for drivers with various needs and financial possibilities;
- we have our own technical center where we test, evaluate, and compare tires to provide reliable information and unbiased reviews;
- we are constantly training in this industry to be up-to-date with new technologies;
- last but not least, tires as well as driving are the passion of every member of the Neotires team. This common asset makes us love our job and provide high-quality service and assistance;
- our priority is not to sell tires but to offer the right tires for the individual and specific. needs of every driver.
So far, these criteria have helped us to establish a beautiful and fruitful relationship with our customers. If you are looking for a team with these values, here we are to help you, just as we helped thousands of existing clients. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!
