Tire Blowout

A blown tire is the exact opposite of a slow leak where a warning light or visual check may prompt you to add air to a tire. If a tire blows, all the air is lost immediately. A loud “pop” usually indicates this has happened, or the bad tire may thump as if it was flat right before exploding. Within seconds, you can lose control of your vehicle. To maintain or regain control of your vehicle, DO NOT apply the brakes. Let the vehicle slow on its own by letting up on the gas pedal. Grip the steering wheel firmly and do your best to keep a straight path. A fully blown tire will probably cause your vehicle to want to pull left or right.

Common causes of blowouts are poor inflation, excessive wear, or heavy impacts against curbs or potholes.

Similar to a blowout and just as dangerous, is if your vehicle loses a wheel. If you perform preflight checks as we suggest, this should not happen. If you lose a wheel, follow the same procedures as for a blowout. Also understand that a wheel coming loose at even 40 miles per hour is enough to damage another vehicle and severely injure the driver or other occupants. Even if you faithfully perform preflight checks, consider other possibilities. Any time you have work performed on your vehicle, especially involving tires, it is entirely possible that the lug nuts on your wheels were not securely tightened. This could be due to negligence or completely by accident. Regardless of the reason, check your wheels or any other parts of your vehicle that may have been adjusted or removed during a visit to the shop.