No driver wants to encounter a tyre blowout, otherwise known as a burst tyre. However, if you spend enough time on the road, you’re bound to come up against one at some point. Tyres blow out when they suddenly lose air pressure and rupture, making the vehicle difficult to control, potentially leading to a crash.
This blog will highlight some of the common causes of tyre blowouts on UK roads, while also giving some insights into how they can be avoided or prepared for.
What causes a tyre blowout?
There are a few common things that will make a tyre burst, all of which drivers should keep an eye on to ensure their wheels stay firmly on the road.
- Under-inflation is the most common cause of a blowout, with less taut tyres experiencing more friction with the road and the subsequent heat causing bursts.
- Overloading the vehicle with too much weight can increase stress and pressure on the tyres, resulting in blowouts.
- Worn, older tyres will have degraded, causing rubber to crack, lose tread depth, weaken in structure and grip. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm.
- Impact damage from potholes, kerbs, debris or other obstacles can cause major internal and external damage to tyres.
- Over-inflation, while less common than the inverse, can make tyres too rigid and more susceptible to impact or stress to the rubber.
- High speeds consistently generate more heat in the tyres, creating more pressure and increasing the likelihood of a burst tyre.
- Manufacturing defects, although rare with today’s manufacturing standards, poor construction can result in blowouts.
- Misaligned wheels cause uneven tyre wear, putting stress on specific areas, accelerating degradation in concentration.
How to prevent tyre blowouts
The most important thing to remember is that prevention is key, which means keeping your eye on things like tyre pressure and specific car load before driving. Some modern cars have Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), but it’s important to check manually. You can use a 20p coin to check your tread depth – if the outer band is visible from the main grooves of the tyre, your tread is below the legal limit. Make sure to avoid hazards, uphold wheel alignment and regularly rotate your tyres to keep bursts at bay.
What should you do if your tyre bursts while driving?
If your tyre bursts while driving, you need to know how to keep yourself on the road safely. Follow these guidelines:
- Grip the steering wheel firmly
- Do NOT brake suddenly as it will cause skids or spins
- Ease off the accelerator slowly and gradually
- Counter-steer gently to keep the car straight
- Allow the car to slow down naturally
- Activate your hazard lights
- Pull over to the side of the road
Once you’ve reached a roadside or hard shoulder, it’s time to call for assistance. Breakdown cover is essential for drivers, ensuring that you can get back on the road as fast as possible without incident. Visit Motoring Assistance today to secure a policy that can keep you moving if your tyre bursts on the road, along with any other breakdown issues.