When I bought my first car, I didn't care about maintenance at all. Instead of carefully checking the oil and watching the wear on my tires, I drove it mindlessly into the ground. However, after junking my first car after only five years, I learned how painful it was to start the entire process from square one. The fact of the matter is that car repair is important. In addition to keeping you safe, car repair can also save you money. As you look through the articles on my website, I hope that you can find tips to help you along the way, so that you can hang onto your investment.
Tire blowouts are a major problem for motorists today. Studies estimate that tire failure is the cause of over 10,000 injuries and 500 deaths each year. While some of these incidents result in vehicle rollovers that cannot be helped, knowing what to do if you experience tire failure while driving is important for everyone's safety.
In order to both reduce your chances of experiencing a blowout and experiencing a crash after you have one, it's important to keep a few important things in mind. As with most automobile issues, your management strategy should begin before you experience the issue.
Before a Blowout
While blowouts can happen at any time of the year, statistics show that the majority of blowouts happen between the months of May and October. This is due to the heat of the season as well as the travelling habits of most motorists. Basically, warm temperatures combined with heavy use create stress on your tires.
What this means is that you should take steps to maintain your tires properly year round--but particularly in the summer months. The most important steps to take include:
By performing these tasks periodically, you'll significantly reduce your chances of having a blowout. That said, sometimes a blowout is completely unavoidable. To safely navigate those situations, you'll need to rehearse your approach beforehand.
During a Blowout
The good news is that a blowout is rarely a silent affair--you'll know if you're in the middle of one. The bad news is that the loud boom followed by the repetitive bumping sound will likely startle you. Your vehicle will also pull to the side of the damaged tire, making panic a natural response.
Your first step if you experience a blowout is to take a deep breath and gather your composure. If you haven't already, do not immediately apply the brakes. Reduced traction and unknown braking distance from your faulty tire make this risky. Also, vehicles around you may respond to your situation, so staying the course for a moment is usually a good idea.
After you've regained your composure, you'll need to accomplish a few things. They are:
While maintaining a firm grasp on the wheel to counteract the sideways pull, look for the nearest shoulder or exit. If you can make it to the right shoulder, this is usually the best bet. However, don't take any unnecessary risks to get there if you cannot make it safely.
Finally, once you've gotten on the path to your stopping point, gently reduce speed with your brake. Apply your hazard lights if you haven't already done so, and safely stop your vehicle out of the flow of traffic.
After a Blowout
Once your vehicle is safely stopped, you'll need to solicit help. Even if you can change the tire to your spare, there is likely debris on the road from your blowout. You should notify the authorities and phone for roadside assistance if you have a provider.
Also, particularly on busy highways, it's a good idea to stay in your vehicle. Visibility isn't always great, and you run the risk of injury by walking near traffic. This is another reason why, even if you are capable of changing your tire, you might want to consider waiting for help to arrive. A help crew can often move your vehicle to a safer location for necessary repairs.
Blowouts are a frightening and dangerous experience. That said, if you keep your wits about you and rehearse your response beforehand, you can typically endure this surprising situation without placing you or your passengers at risk.
Share3 February 2015
