Know How to Handle a Tire Blowout — Don't Slam the Brakes

The Problem

A tire blows out at 65 mph. Your instinct is to slam the brakes and swerve. That causes rollover accidents.

The Hack

If a tire blows: grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands. DO NOT brake. Gently press the gas for 1-2 seconds to stabilize. Slowly release the gas to decelerate. Signal and carefully pull to the shoulder.

Why It Works

Braking shifts weight to the blown tire, which has no traction — causing a spin or rollover. Brief acceleration stabilizes the car by keeping weight distributed. Slow deceleration maintains control.

Pro Tips

• Counter-intuitive: briefly accelerate, don't brake
• Keep the steering wheel straight — don't jerk
• Slow deceleration: ease off gas, let the car slow naturally
• Pull over as far right as possible, activate hazards