Handle a Blowout
So you’re cruising down the interstate on your way to the beach. Traffic is light so you’re going slightly over the speed limit. The tunes are cranked up and you’re in the zone when all of sudden you hear a loud pop and your car starts pulling into the other lane. You’ve had a blowout. Would you know what to do?
“Instead of hitting the brakes, maintain your speed,” says Eric Espinosa, executive director of the Maryland-based National Institute of Vehicle Dynamics. Sudden changes of speed can compromise what structural integrity the tire may still have. Steer gently for the same reason. With things fully under control, slow gradually and pull over to the shoulder.
