How to Handle Tire Blowouts

Blowouts have become increasingly rare over the years as the technology used for designing tires gets better and better. However, in the world of trucking, they still occur every now and then, so if you’re going to be hauling goods across the country, it’s important to know what to do if you encounter a blowout situation. This will help you keep yourself and everyone else on the road safer should such a situation present itself.

Read on for some information about truck tire repair from our expert repair technicians.

What to do with a blowout

Part of noticing a blowout and acting accordingly is having a sense of how your truck normally feels when you’re driving it. The majority of tire punctures create a gradual loss of pressure, so there might only be some subtle changes in the way the vehicle behaves. A blowout might make this feeling much more obvious.

You’ll know it’s a blowout if you hear or feel a tire popping, and then a flapping or flopping sound, which is the sound of the tire hitting the road repeatedly.

If the vehicle was manufactured after 2008, there’s a good chance it features a TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring systems. These systems are designed to alert you if you have low pressure, for any reason, in any of your tires. It’s important for all drivers, but especially for truckers, to address the issue as soon as they lose pressure so they can prevent any safety hazards from arising on the road.

This is a significant safety issue that you should pay attention to. Some sources estimate that as many as 80,000 accidents per year are a result of flat tires or blowouts.

If you do experience a blowout while operating your vehicle, you should not panic. That will only make the situation worse. Instead, keep a firm grip on your steering wheel, and avoid slamming on the brakes. In fact, if you’re able to avoid braking almost entirely, that’s going to be your best approach. This is likely only going to be a possibility on a highway. You should instead take your foot off the gas and let your vehicle start to slow down, without turning the wheel. When it’s safe to do so, get your truck to the side of the road or to the nearest freeway exit, where you can then gently brake and turn on your hazards.

If you’re stuck on the road, you can call for help to arrive. If you’re near an exit, you may be able to get to a rest stop or gas station where you can diagnose the problem and see if there are any immediate steps you can take to at least allow you to proceed on your journey.

For more information about the steps you should take if you find yourself in a blowout situation, or if you need to schedule an appointment for truck tire repair, get in touch with the experts at J.H.T. Service & Repair, LLC today.

Categorised in: Tires

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