A sudden tire blowout can be a frightening thing even for the most seasoned driver. I had a tire blowout several years ago. I was driving a large car and cruised easily on the highway at speeds around 115 km. per hour.

I was in the process of passing another car when my rear passenger tire exploded, so I was actually going faster then 115 km. at the time.

The tire really did explode. It was not a slow leak but a true blowout that was caused by a couple of factors. As the tire dealership explained to me, the tire had become under inflated and the air inside became super heated and eventually the tire exploded from the stress. Had I been driving in the city it most likely would never have happened, but because I was traveling at a high rate of speed the stress on the tire was too great. It was the high speed that caused the over heating. There was a large hole in the tire and the edges of the hole were all shredded.

There are several things to be aware of if you have a high speed tire blowout.

THE TRAFFIC AROUND YOU:

I have heard it said that a good driver should be looking in his rear view mirror every 8-10 seconds. It is a great habit to get into, because instinctively, you will always be aware of your escape routes should something unexpected happen. It is much to late to start looking around once a dangerous situation unfolds. In my particular case, I was in the highway passing lane and had just accelerated to pass a slower vehicle. I also noticed another vehicle enter the passing lane behind me to pass the same slower vehicle. Just as I signaled to go back into the driving lane, my tire exploded. Fortunately I knew exactly where the traffic was around me.

YOUR FIRST REACTION:

Instinctively, the first reaction might be to slam on the brakes. It would be very wise to restrain yourself from this course of action. Steering slightly in the opposite direction that the car wants to veer will help keep the car under control. That would be the time to start applying firm steady pressure on the brakes as you make your way to safety on the side of the road. By slamming on the brakes right away you could actually accentuate the initial reaction of the vehicle and lose control completely. Much will depend on the speed you are initially traveling. Most likely it will be quite fast because serious instantaneous blowouts often happen at higher speeds.

ROAD CONDITIONS:

Much will also depend on the condition of the road surface at

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