Stop
A blowout at speed is dangerous; do not brake hard or jerk the wheel, and get well off the roadway before assessing the damage.
Symptoms
- Loud bang followed by immediate pulling to one side
- Car suddenly feels unstable or hard to control
- Flapping sound after the bang
Likely causes
- CommonSidewall failure from age, damage, or underinflationA weakened sidewall can fail suddenly under normal driving stress, especially at highway speed.
- PossibleSudden impact with road debris or a potholeA hard hit can rupture the tire instantly.
What to do
- Stay calm and avoid slamming on the brakes, which can make the car harder to control.
- Ease off the accelerator gradually and let the car slow down naturally.
- Grip the wheel firmly and steer to keep the car going straight, correcting gently for any pull.
- Once speed has dropped, brake gently and pull off the road to a safe, flat area away from traffic.
- Turn on hazard lights and change to the spare tire, or call for roadside assistance if conditions aren't safe to do it yourself.
Tools and parts
- Spare tire and jack
- Hazard triangles
Replacement tireSearch: “tire size for [your car model]”
When to call a pro
Have the tire and wheel inspected after any blowout, and consider having the vehicle's alignment checked if the sudden pull was significant.
Safety
Stop
A blowout at speed is dangerous; do not brake hard or jerk the wheel, and get well off the roadway before assessing the damage.