What should you do if you experience a tire blowout while driving?

When experiencing a tire blowout while driving, the best course of action is to hold the steering wheel firmly and steer straight. This is crucial because a sudden loss of tire pressure can cause the vehicle to pull in the direction of the blowout, and maintaining a straight path helps to maintain control of the vehicle. Gradually slowing down is important as well since abrupt braking or accelerating can lead to loss of control. Once you have reduced your speed, you should pull off the road to a safe location, ideally a straight stretch away from traffic.

In this situation, immediately steering left may cause further loss of control, especially if the blowout occurs on the rear tires, as this can result in a spin. Accelerating to maintain speed is dangerous because increasing speed during a blowout can exacerbate the difficulty in controlling the vehicle. Changing lanes quickly can be hazardous too, as it might not give you enough time to assess the road conditions or the behavior of other drivers, creating additional risks.