The first step to successfully driving with a blown tire is to realize you can survive the situation and drive your car to safety. A calm and clear head will ensure you and your car survive without becoming a traffic statistic. Do not panic and your chances of surviving the situation without mishap greatly improve.
Recognize the problem. A loud unusual sound followed by the car losing stability is a sign a tire has blown. Often drivers do not hear anything unusual because of interior noise. If you experience difficulty controlling your car, or the car no longer drives smoothly, your tire may have blown. Decrease the noise in the car and listen for unusual sounds to confirm a problem exists.
Drive your vehicle gradually toward the nearest exit or the side of the road. Do not abruptly break your vehicle, make sharp turns or attempt to cut sharply into traffic. Work your way slowly to an exit or the side of the freeway.
Tap your breaks to reduce speed and slowly come to a complete stop. You want to slowly operate your car to avoid an accident, so slowly reduce your speed and move to a safe location.
Stop your car on the side of the freeway or pull into the nearest parking lot if you are on a surface street. Turn on your hazard lights. If possible place a hazard sign or flare behind your stopped vehicle.
Check your tires once you have reached safety. If a blown tire has occurred, search the trunk for a spare. The car instruction manual has instructions on how to replace a tire. A call for help is a good idea if you do not have a spare or are not confident in your ability to change a tire.
Prevent blown tires. Low tire pressure causes most tire blow outs. Check your tire pressure on a regular basis to prevent most blown tires from ever occurring.
