Source: www.team-bhp.com

There isn’t a doubt that a tyre blowout ranks the highest on
any highway driver’s list of fears. With good reason, 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 that, 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:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• If your car pulls to the left or right side and the steering
has gotten heavier, either of the front tyres has burst. The
direction that the car pulls in is the side of the damaged
tyre. On the other hand, if your car weaves, a rear tyre has
blown. Again, don’t brake. It can lead to your car fishtailing.
• Always drive with both hands on the steering wheel. It’s
difficult to control the car in an emergency situation if you
have only one hand on the wheel (and the other holding a
coffee cup).
• Understand that your car will behave very differently with a
blown tyre. Effectively, the vehicle now has only 3 contact
patches with the road (instead of 4). Any sharp inputs
(steering, brake, accelerator) must be avoided.
• If you drive an SUV or MUV, the probability of a rollover is
extremely high. SUVs also have a greater chance of losing
stability and steering control. Maintaining a conservative
cruising speed is recommended.
• Rubber parts or a broken wheel could have damaged other
components of your car. Have a mechanic thoroughly check
your car before fitting the spare wheel and driving away. If
the extent of damage is severe, call for a tow truck. Most
car manufacturers & expressways offer road side
assistance now.
• The situation worsens if the roads are wet. It’s best to
maintain a lower driving speed in the monsoons. On the flip
side, the odds of an overheating tyre are also lesser in rain
or cold weather. Click here (ARTICLE: Safe Driving in the
Rains) to view our article on safe driving in the monsoon
season.
• Above all, try to remain as calm as possible. You shouldn't
panic and you certainly shouldn't overreact. In most cases,
but not always, a tyre burst is accompanied by a blast
sound or a loud pop.

Cc: Lalasticlala