What to Do If You Have a Tire Blowout in Antigo, WI
When a tire blows out while driving, your reaction will save your life.
Tire blowouts (especially on a front tire) could cause you to lose control of the vehicle. It takes only a fraction of a second to lose control and panic.
Tires that blow out are often separated, dry rotted, have minimal tread, or have a nail in them.
Little Wolf Express Lube repairs tires in Antigo, WI, helping you have fewer chances of having a blowout.
What Happens When a Tire Blows Out
You’ll likely hear a loud bang first. You might hear a whooshing sound of the air leaving the tire. You’ll also likely hear the tire flapping on the road.
If the blowout is on a front tire, it will pull the steering wheel out of your hands. Be ready to grip the steering wheel as soon as you hear the bang.
If the blowout is on a rear tire, you’ll most likely feel it on the floor and the vehicle’s seat.
In either case, the vehicle will most likely pull toward the side of the vehicle where the tire blew out.
As soon as you hear or feel a tire blow out, do not panic. Panicking leads you to do the very things you’re not supposed to do, like slamming the brakes.
What to Do When a Tire Blows Out
You need to focus on keeping control over the vehicle. Stay calm and focus on what is happening so that you’ll know the next steps to take.
- Make sure to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. A tire blowout is going to rip the steering wheel out of your hands.
- Do not slam on the brakes. In fact, do not even touch them. Hitting the brakes too hard could cause the vehicle to roll over.
- Gradually lift your foot off the accelerator. Slowing down too quickly will cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
- Steer in the direction you need to go. Do not make large movements with the steering wheel. Gradually move over to the side of the road. You can use a turn signal to tell other drivers where you are headed.
- Once you slow down to a manageable speed, you can gently use the brake pedal to help stop the vehicle. We advise not using the brakes until you get to 15 mph or less.
- Turn on the emergency flashers, and call for a tow truck.
Always make sure you are far enough off the road so that other vehicles (especially rubberneckers) won’t run into you. If it is safe, leave the vehicle and get away from it. If someone does hit it, you won’t be in it.
If You Can Change the Tire Yourself
If you can change the tire, put out reflective cones or triangles to warn other drivers that you are on the side of the road. If it’s not safe to change tires, call a tow truck. You do not want to drive on a rim—doing so will damage it.
Have the tow truck bring the vehicle to Little Wolf Express Lube in Antigo, WI. We can replace the tire and quickly have you back on the road. We’ll also check the other tires to ensure they are not punctured, separated, or have low tread.
Contact us today for an appointment.
