How to Survive a Blowout

I’ve suffered dozens of tire blowouts while driving and as a passenger. I’m not unlucky, buy bad tires, ride with slackers, or fail to check my tire pressure. These all were intentional blowouts for testing or demonstrations for a tire company.

On-Purpose Explosions

Some plastic explosive and a detonator cap on the tire sidewall do an excellent job of simulating the startling noise and instant loss of air pressure of a real blowout. The demonstrations were done on both front and rear tires on both front- and rear-drive passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles. No one ever lost control.

For testing, as well as videos to record what happens when the wrong thing is done, I intentionally lost control several times. (“We need someone to do something really dangerous that we’re not sure will end well… Hey, Mac!” “I’m gonna be on TV? Hey y’all watch this.”)

In the pre-blowout classroom, I told the students they would receive a C+ if they did absolutely nothing at all. (It’s kinda like being in a college class with football players: Non-athletes will get a C+ if they just show up because the starting running back is getting a C regardless. I won’t name the university where I had this experience except to say it’s not Mr. Issippi.)

Do This, Don’t Do That

If you suffer a tire blowout or tread separation (where the tread flies off the tire carcass but the tire doesn’t immediately deflate), you’ll get a passing grade if you drive straight down your lane and allow your vehicle to slow to what will seem like a crawling pace (about 30 mph) before you gently turn toward the shoulder.

Let me repeat that: DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN YOUR LANE. A blown tire has so much drag that the vehicle WILL slow down even if you leave your foot on the accelerator. (If you have ABS and stability control, I’ll give you a “C minus” if you brake lightly while keeping the steering wheel pointed straight ahead. Whatever you do, DO NOT turn the wheel at speed. That’ll get you and F—and probably worse.

If you lift off the accelerator and stay away from the brake while driving straight down your lane, you get a B. Oh yeah, you get an “F” if you turn the wheel at speed.

To get an A you’ve got to press the accelerator (yes, the accelerator) for a very short moment—no more than two seconds—the instant you hear the boom. Then you must drive straight down your lane while smoooothly releasing the accelerator. Allow the car to coast to a slow speed (25 or 30 mph is good) before GENTLY turning toward the shoulder of the road. If this technique only locks up your mind for a few seconds (while you drive straight), it’s a success.

However, pressing the accelerator for an instant will stabilize the car. And it won’t gain speed: A blown tire has so much drag that even at full throttle the car will barely maintain its pace in top gear. Throw all the “even ifs” at me you like. This technique works. Almost all highway blowouts happen while the car is traveling in a straight line, in very hot ambient temperature, with a tire that’s under-inflated, run under-inflated or damaged. May to October in southern states is Blowout Season. A tread separation is a bit different. I’ll describe it in another article. But these techniques work for those, too. Even if.

You get a huge red F if you turn the wheel at speed (I can’t say this enough), especially if a rear tire has blown. If you turn right with a blown left rear tire, the car will spin out so fast you won’t believe it. I didn’t believe it! On a public road you’ll likely leave the pavement, hit something and flip. Even if.

Thanks! It's nice to get the official advice.