What causes a tyre blowout, practical steps to reduce the risk, and the safest way to respond if one happens while you're driving.
A tyre blowout — a sudden, complete loss of pressure rather than a slow leak — is rare, but it's unsettling enough that it's worth knowing both what causes one and how to respond safely if it happens.
Under-inflation is one of the most common causes: running low on air lets a tyre flex more than it's designed to, generating heat that weakens its structure. Overloading a vehicle beyond its tyres' rated capacity has a similar effect. Worn tyres with little tread left are more vulnerable to failure, as are tyres damaged by sharp debris or potholes. Extreme heat accelerates all of these; a manufacturing defect, while less common, can also be a factor.
Checking tyre pressure regularly, keeping within your vehicle's rated load limits, and visually inspecting tyres for cracks, bulges or embedded debris before a long journey all reduce the chances of a blowout. Following your tyre and vehicle manufacturer's own guidance on rotation and maintenance is worth doing rather than relying on a generic mileage figure, since the right interval varies by vehicle and driving.
Try to keep control of the vehicle. Grip the steering wheel firmly and allow it to roll to a stop, moving towards the side of the road rather than stopping in a live traffic lane. If you're left with a flat tyre, stop as soon as it's safe to do so. Only change the tyre yourself if you can do it without putting yourself or anyone else at risk — on a motorway, or anywhere that doesn't feel safe, call for breakdown assistance instead.
A tyre that's blown out needs replacing, not repairing. See our 24/7 mobile tyre replacement page to arrange a callout.
