How To Maintaining Control When a Tire Blows Out

Michelin Offers Tips for Maintaining Control When a Tire Blows Out; Knowing Proper Response Technique can Prevent an Accident

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 10 Traveling down an interstate
thick with traffic at 55 miles an hour, a tire blowout can be a heart-stopping
experience.  Although blowouts are rare, they happen suddenly, forcing a
driver to react swiftly.  An incorrect response to the sudden loss of air
pressure can be disastrous, but Michelin engineers say that the correct
response can keep a driver in control and on the road.
    If a blowout occurs, Michelin advises something that seems contrary to
what a driver would want to do:  hit the gas.  "It's just a natural instinct
to try to hit the brakes when we realize a tire has lost air pressure," said
David Jones, Michelin brand manager.  "Acceleration is the key to maintaining
forward momentum and staying in control."
    Sudden braking in a front tire blowout places the weight and forward
motion of the vehicle on the flat tire, causing the vehicle to swerve.  In a
rear tire blowout, sudden braking throws the vehicle off balance, making
steering difficult.  A quick tap on the accelerator keeps the vehicle's
forward momentum constant and compensates for the pull and drag of the flat
tire.  That's what helps the driver keep the vehicle under control.  Taking
your foot off the gas can also help, but accelerating is ideal.  In addition
to accelerating, a driver should hold the steering wheel straight and only
brake when the vehicle is under the driver's control.
    Mac DeMere, a test driver at Michelin's Laurens Proving Ground facility in
South Carolina, said that this emergency procedure works in the event of a
front or rear blowout, and for both front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles.
    "It's important that people know what to do in an emergency situation such
as a blowout, because it happens so suddenly," said DeMere.  "We've been
testing our tires for so long, we know that whatever the road or traffic
conditions, this technique works."