The first ten seconds after a blowout matter more than anything you do afterward. Here’s the right order.
Call (269) 925-9573The instinct is to slam the brakes. Don’t. A blown tire already pulls the car hard to one side — braking hard on top of that can send you into a spin, especially at highway speed on I-94 or I-196. Ease off the gas instead and let the car slow naturally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands and counter-steer gently against the pull. Keep the car as straight as you can while it slows. Don’t try to correct hard in the other direction — overcorrecting is how a blowout turns into a rollover.
Once you’ve got the car slowing under control, signal and move toward the shoulder gradually — not a sharp cut across lanes. Aim for the widest, flattest part of the shoulder you can see, away from an overpass or curve if possible.
A blown tire on the right side is manageable to pull off; a blown tire on the left, especially on a divided highway, means crossing more traffic to reach the shoulder — go slow and use your mirrors constantly. Once stopped, get as far onto the shoulder as the terrain allows.
Underinflated or aging tires are far more likely to blow on hot pavement during long highway stretches — heat builds inside the tire faster than it can dissipate, especially on loaded vehicles like motorhomes and trailers. Check your tread and pressure before a road trip; see our tire tread safety guide for a two-minute driveway check.
Call (269) 925-9573 — we run tire replacement and towing 24/7 across Berrien and Van Buren County, including I-94 and I-196.