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A tire blowout is one of the most frightening things that can happen at highway speed. There is a loud bang, the car lurches toward one side, and the steering suddenly feels heavy or wobbly. Your instinct is to stamp on the brake, and that is exactly the wrong move. Most blowouts can be handled safely if you know what to do in the first few seconds. This guide explains the correct steps, why they work, what to do once you are stopped, and how to make a blowout far less likely in the first place.
Key takeaways: if a tire blows out, do not slam on the brakes. Grip the wheel with both hands, keep the car straight, hold your speed briefly, then ease off and let the car slow down before braking gently and pulling over well away from traffic.
What a tire blowout feels like
A blowout is a sudden, complete loss of air, usually caused by the tire structure failing. You will typically notice:
- A loud bang or pop, followed by a flapping or thumping noise.
- A strong pull toward the side of the failed tire if it is a front tire.
- Swaying or a loose, unstable feeling in the seat and the rear of the car if it is a rear tire.
- The car slowing down, because the flat tire creates a lot of drag.
Blowouts are not common, but they are serious. AAA, citing the National Transportation Safety Board, reports about 33,000 tire-related crashes a year, at least 2,000 of them caused by blowouts.
What to do in the first few seconds
- Do not slam on the brakes. Hard braking shifts weight onto the front tires while one tire has no air, which can make the car spin or roll. Michelin warns that the pull toward the failed side combined with hard braking can cause a spin.
- Grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Expect the car to pull toward the blown tire and be ready to hold it straight.
- Keep a steady foot on the accelerator for a moment. Michelin and AAA both advise maintaining momentum briefly to stabilize the car. The flat tire is already slowing you down; a little throttle helps keep the car straight.
- Steer to stay in your lane. Look where you want to go and make small, smooth corrections. Do not jerk the wheel.
- Ease off the accelerator gradually. Let the car slow down on its own.
- Brake gently once you are slow. When the speed has dropped to around 30 mph or below, apply the brakes lightly.
- Signal and pull over. Turn on your indicator, check mirrors, and steer smoothly to the shoulder or the nearest safe place well away from traffic.
| Do | Do not |
|---|---|
| Hold the wheel firmly with both hands | Slam on the brakes |
| Keep the car straight in its lane | Jerk the steering wheel |
| Let the car slow down gradually | Swerve across lanes to the shoulder |
| Brake gently below about 30 mph | Stop in a live lane or on a curve |
| Turn on your hazard lights once stopped | Try to change a tire next to fast traffic |
Front blowout vs rear blowout
Front tire
A front blowout affects steering directly. The car pulls hard toward the side of the failed tire and the steering wheel may jerk in your hands. Your main job is to hold the wheel firmly and keep the car pointing straight while it slows.
Rear tire
A rear blowout is felt more through the seat and the back of the car, which can sway or fishtail. Keep the steering steady, avoid sudden inputs and let the car slow gradually. Braking hard with a rear blowout is especially likely to make the back of the car slide.
Once you have stopped
- Stop as far from traffic as you can, ideally on a wide shoulder, an exit ramp or a parking lot. It is fine to drive slowly on the flat for a short distance to reach a safer place, even though it may damage the wheel.
- Switch on your hazard warning lights and, if you have them, place warning triangles behind the car.
- Put the car in park and set the parking brake.
- Get everyone out on the side away from traffic and wait behind a barrier if there is one.
- Do not change the tire on a narrow shoulder next to fast traffic, or if the flat is on the traffic side. Call roadside assistance instead.
- If you change the tire yourself, follow the steps in your owner’s manual and remember that a compact spare has speed and distance limits.
A blowout is different from an ordinary puncture. If the tire has simply lost air from a nail, a tire repair kit can sometimes get you to a shop, but a tire that has blown out has internal damage and must be replaced.
Blowout vs flat tire: what is the difference?
A flat tire usually loses air slowly, from a nail, a leaking valve or a damaged rim. You may notice the car pulling gently, a soft ride or the tire pressure warning light, and you normally have time to slow down and pull over calmly. A blowout is a sudden failure: the tire loses all its air in an instant, often with a bang, and the car reacts immediately. The same basic rules apply to both, a firm grip and no hard braking, but a blowout needs a faster, calmer response. If you have a slow flat on a busy road, the same advice about stopping well away from traffic and calling for help applies.
What causes tire blowouts?
- Under-inflation. The most common cause. A low tire flexes more and builds up heat, which can break down the rubber and cords until the tire fails. Our guide on when to check tire pressure explains how to keep tires at the right pressure.
- Overloading. Carrying or towing more than the tires are rated for has the same heat-building effect.
- Road hazards. Potholes, curbs and debris can damage the tire structure, sometimes causing a failure miles later.
- Worn or old tires. Thin tread and aged, cracked rubber are more likely to fail. Many makers recommend replacing tires after six to 10 years regardless of tread.
- Hot weather and long, fast trips. Heat speeds up the damage in a tire that is already low or weak.
How to prevent a blowout
- Check tire pressure at least once a month and before long trips, with the tires cold.
- Look over your tires regularly for bulges, cuts, cracks and objects stuck in the tread.
- Replace tires when the tread is worn; our tread depth checklist shows how to measure it.
- Never exceed the load rating on your tires or the vehicle weight limits on the door placard.
- Have a tire inspected after a hard pothole or curb strike, even if it seems fine.
- Pay attention to the TPMS warning light and any new vibration, noise or pulling.
Insurance company Travelers also recommends gradually releasing the accelerator and steering where you want to go, the same approach Michelin and AAA describe. Practicing the steps in your head now makes it much more likely you will react correctly if it ever happens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to do if a tire blows out?
Grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands and do not brake hard. Keep the car straight, then ease off the accelerator and let it slow down gradually.
Should you accelerate during a blowout?
Briefly holding or slightly pressing the accelerator helps stabilize the car, as Michelin and AAA advise. After a moment, ease off gradually and let the car slow.
When should I brake after a blowout?
Only once the car has slowed a good deal, at around 30 mph or below, and then gently.
Can I drive on a blown tire?
Only slowly and for a very short distance to reach a safe place to stop. Driving further will destroy the wheel and can damage brakes and suspension.
Can a blown-out tire be repaired?
No. A blowout damages the tire’s internal structure, so it must be replaced.