HOW TO HANDLE A TYRE BURST
There isn’t a doubt that a tyre blowout
ranks the highest on any highway driver’s list
of fears. With good reason too, as a tyre
burst could lead to a complete loss of car
control. With SUVs & MUVs, there is the
possibility of a flip-over too. A blowout is
dangerous no matter how good a driver you
are or how safe your car is.
The good news is, with tyre technology
continually improving, blowouts are becoming
an infrequent occurrence. Still, they do
happen and it's best that you know what to
do if you suffer one.
HOW TO HANDLE A TYRE BURST:

1. Start with maintaining a safe driving
speed; there are just no two sides to this.
The lower your speed, the higher your chance
of survival. A blowout at 80 - 90 kph will be
far less dramatic than one at 140 - 150 kph.
Indeed, if you survive a tyre burst at 150
kph, consider it a gift of God.

2. Do NOT slam on the brake pedal. Of course,
this is easier said than done, as our brains
are hardwired to instinctively jam the brake
pedal in an emergency. Hard braking is
actually the worst thing you can do as it will
further imbalance the vehicle and throw it
out of control.

3. Don’t abruptly take your foot off the
accelerator. Do it slowly & gradually. In
fact, Michelin recommends that you maintain
accelerator input momentarily, before
releasing it slowly. The deceleration force
from a blown tyre is so strong that your car
will anyway slow down rapidly. If you have
engaged cruise control, be sure to disengage
it immediately.

4. Try your best to keep the vehicle pointed
straight. Cornering or turning with a blown
tyre will greatly upset the car’s composure.
If your car is pulling to one side, you might
need to pull the steering in the opposite
direction to keep it going straight. This is
critical, else you risk drifting into the road
divider or worse still, the opposite lane.

5. Do NOT attempt to over-correct. The key
is to maintain the vehicle’s stability. A sharp
yank of the steering wheel can result in a
rollover. Even when you have gained control
and are slowly moving to a safe parking
spot, do so with the mildest steering inputs
possible.

6. Allow the vehicle to gradually coast to a
stop. Use engine braking if necessary. Lightly
engage the brakes only when your car has
decelerated to a slow speed. Use the turn
indicators and pull over safely off the road.
Drive on the bare metal wheel if you have to,
but do NOT stop in the middle of the road as
you run the risk of getting rear-ended by a
speeding car. Remember to activate your
hazard lights when stopped.