What to Do Immediately After Your Tire Blowout
Stop safely and turn on your hazard lights
When a tire blows, your first instinct may be to brake hard. Instead, grip the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and let the car slow gradually. Braking suddenly can cause you to skid or lose control, especially at highway speeds. Once you feel the car stabilizing, gently apply the brakes and steer toward the shoulder or a safe area away from traffic.
Turn on your hazard lights immediately so other drivers see you. If you are on a busy highway or in heavy traffic, do not attempt to change the tire yourself. Instead, stay in your car with the doors locked, call 911 or your roadside assistance provider, and wait for help. If you are on a quiet road and feel safe exiting the vehicle, turn off the engine and engage the parking brake before you get out.
Key Takeaways
- Grip the wheel and ease off the gas rather than braking hard when a tire blows, then steer to a safe spot away from traffic.
- Turn on hazard lights and stay in your locked car on busy roads; call 911 or roadside assistance instead of changing the tire yourself.
- On quiet roads, engage the parking brake, set up warning triangles or flares behind your car, and loosen lug nuts before jacking up the vehicle.
- After the tire is changed, drive slowly to a repair shop to have the wheel inspected and the spare checked before your next trip.
- A blowout often signals an underlying problem like underinflation, a puncture, or worn tread, so have a mechanic examine the damaged tire.
Gather your tools and assess the damage
If you decide to change the tire yourself on a safe road, open your trunk and locate your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Most vehicles carry these in a compartment under the trunk floor or mounted on the back. Check that your spare is actually inflated—a flat spare will not get you far. If the spare is low on air, you will need to call for a tow instead.
Before you jack up the car, loosen the lug nuts on the damaged wheel by a quarter turn using the wrench. Do this while the car is still on the ground, because the weight of the vehicle makes it easier to break the nuts free. If the nuts are stuck, do not force them; call for roadside assistance. Forcing a stuck nut can strip it or cause you to injure yourself.
Position warning devices and jack the vehicle
Place warning triangles or flares on the road behind your car at least 100 feet away to alert oncoming traffic. If you do not have triangles or flares, use your hazard lights and stay alert for approaching vehicles. Position the jack on a flat, firm surface—not on gravel, dirt, or asphalt that may be soft. Most cars have small notches or marks on the frame that show where the jack should go; consult your owner's manual if you are unsure.
Raise the vehicle slowly until the tire is about six inches off the ground. Do not get under the car or place any part of your body beneath it while it is jacked up. Once the tire is clear, remove the loosened lug nuts completely and set them in a safe place where you will not lose them. Pull the damaged wheel straight toward you to remove it from the hub.
Install the spare and tighten the lug nuts
Lift the spare tire and align the holes with the bolts on the hub. Push it straight onto the bolts until it sits flush against the wheel hub. Hand-tighten the lug nuts as much as you can, then use the wrench to tighten them in a star or cross pattern—tighten one, skip one, tighten the next, and so on. This distributes pressure evenly and prevents the wheel from sitting crooked.
Lower the vehicle slowly by turning the jack handle or crank until the tire touches the ground and the car's full weight rests on it. Once the car is down, use the wrench to tighten the lug nuts again in the same star pattern, applying firm pressure but not all your strength. Over-tightening can damage the bolts or make it impossible to remove the wheel later.
Drive to a repair shop and have the tire inspected
Most spare tires are temporary and designed for short distances at reduced speeds. Check your owner's manual or the sidewall of the spare for the recommended speed limit, usually 50 miles per hour or less. Drive slowly and directly to a tire shop or repair facility to have the damaged tire examined and the spare inspected. Do not delay this step; a temporary spare can fail if you drive too far or too fast on it.
A mechanic will determine whether the tire can be patched or must be replaced. They will also check the spare to ensure it is in good condition for future emergencies. While you are there, ask them to inspect your other tires for wear, damage, or underinflation, since a blowout often signals a broader problem with your tires or suspension.
Understand what caused the blowout
A tire does not blow out randomly. Common causes include driving on underinflated tires, hitting a pothole or road debris, worn tread that cannot grip the road, or a manufacturing defect. Check your tire pressure at a gas station or repair shop using a pressure gauge. Your vehicle's door jamb or owner's manual lists the correct pressure for your tires. If your tires are consistently low, you may have a slow leak or a faulty valve stem.
Worn tread is another frequent culprit. Use the penny test: insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too worn and the tires should be replaced. Tires with less than 4/32 of an inch of tread are considered unsafe in wet conditions, even if they are legal. If your tires are old, cracked, or bulging, replace them before your next long drive.
Prepare for the next blowout
Keep your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench in your vehicle at all times. Check the spare's air pressure every few months, since spares can lose pressure over time. Store the jack and wrench in a dry place so they do not rust. If your vehicle does not have a spare, consider purchasing a portable tire plug kit or a small air compressor as a backup.
Roadside assistance memberships through AAA, your insurance company, or your car manufacturer can save you time and stress if you have another blowout. These services will dispatch a technician to change your tire or tow your vehicle if the spare is flat or the damage is severe. Keep your membership card and phone number in your glove compartment or saved in your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive on a spare tire for a long distance?
Temporary spares are designed for short trips to a repair shop, usually 50 to 70 miles at reduced speed. Driving farther or faster can overheat the spare and cause it to fail. Full-size spares mounted on some vehicles can handle longer distances, but check your manual. If you need to travel more than 100 miles, call a tow truck instead.
What should I do if I cannot loosen the lug nuts?
Stuck lug nuts are common, especially on older vehicles or in wet conditions. Do not force them, as you risk stripping the nut or injuring yourself. Call roadside assistance or a tow truck. A technician has power tools and experience removing stuck fasteners without damage.
Is it safe to change a tire on the highway?
Changing a tire on a busy highway puts you at risk from passing traffic. Stay in your locked car, turn on hazard lights, and call 911 or roadside assistance. If you must exit the vehicle, wear a high-visibility vest and stay as far from traffic as possible. Never stand between your car and oncoming traffic.
How do I know if my spare tire is good?
Check the air pressure using a tire gauge and compare it to the pressure listed on the spare itself or in your owner's manual. Inspect the sidewall for cracks, bulges, or dry rot. If the spare is more than ten years old, have a mechanic inspect it, as rubber deteriorates over time regardless of use.
What if the blowout damaged my wheel rim?
A bent or cracked rim cannot be safely repaired and must be replaced. A mechanic can assess the damage when you bring in the damaged tire. If the rim is damaged, you will need to purchase a replacement wheel in addition to a new tire. Check your insurance policy to see if roadside assistance or collision coverage applies.