How to react to a tire blowout?

W ith the development of technology, construction techniques and materials, car tyres are becoming increasingly safer. For this reason, a tyre burst is a rare incident, but it can happen . And we need to react accordingly.

There can be many reasons for a tire to burst, from the condition of the road surface to the condition of the tire itself, including incorrect pressure levels. Regardless of the cause of the problem, it can lead to serious accidents.

Being a point of contact with the ground, it is easy to notice when a tire bursts by the behavior of the vehicle - vibrations in the steering, the sound of the blow, the vehicle veering towards the side of the burst tire if it is the front tire or the rear sliding towards the side of the affected tire if it is the rear tire.

The 28-year-old former Portuguese international died in the early hours of Thursday morning following a road accident in Spain, where he was accompanied by his brother André Silva, a former Penafiel player.

News to the Minute | 14:55 - 03/07/2025

What to do if a tire blows out?

A tyre blowout can be a frightening situation, but as with any road accident , staying calm and collected is essential to ensure you act correctly and minimise the risk to yourself and other road users. At higher speeds, reaction times may be less likely to allow you to deal with the situation.

• Signalling danger : First of all, you must turn on the hazard lights ('four flashers')
• Smooth driving : Under no circumstances should you make sudden steering or braking movements, and use the gearshift to slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator slowly and do not brake hard, as you may lose control. A flat tire will also cause you to lose speed. When the speed is safer, from 50 km/h and below, brake gently until you stop.
• Straight-line steering : Try to keep the vehicle moving straight, compensating for the yaw to the side of the damaged tire. Firestone recommends gripping the steering wheel firmly with your hands at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions, without trying to correct in the opposite direction to which the car is tending to steer.
• Stopping safely : When you regain control, you should carefully steer the car to the side of the road and act as you would in any other incident: get out of the vehicle and signal the situation appropriately.

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