How to Handle a Tire Blowout at Highway Speed
A tire blowout is loud, sudden, and disorienting, the car may pull hard to one side, and you'll likely hear a bang followed by a flapping or thumping sound. The instinct to slam the brakes or yank the wheel is exactly the wrong move at highway speed. What actually keeps you safe is staying calm and letting the car slow down gradually.
What to Do the Moment It Happens
- Grip the wheel firmly with both hands and resist the pull toward the failed tire.
- Take your foot off the gas, but don't brake yet. Let the car slow down on its own first.
- Keep the car pointed straight, making only small steering corrections.
- Once your speed has dropped and the car feels stable, brake gently, easing toward the shoulder.
- Signal and pull as far onto the shoulder or breakdown lane as you safely can before stopping.
Why Braking Hard Makes It Worse
Slamming the brakes shifts the car's weight forward and can cause it to spin, especially with a rear tire blowout. Letting off the gas and coasting gives you time to keep the car straight before you introduce any braking force, which is why the sequence matters as much as the reaction itself.
After You're Stopped Safely
Turn on your hazards immediately, and if you can, get everyone out of the car and away from the lane of traffic before attempting anything with the tire. A blowout on a busy highway shoulder is still a dangerous place to be standing, changing the tire can usually wait until you're somewhere safer, or until help arrives.
Lowering Your Risk Before It Happens
Underinflated and worn tires are the most common cause of highway blowouts, especially in hot weather when tire pressure and heat build-up compound each other. Check your tread regularly, our penny test guide walks through how, and check your tire pressure monthly. A five-minute check is a lot cheaper than a blowout at 70 miles an hour.