[Car Knowledge] How to deal with sudden tire blowouts!
💥 Editor's honest opinion: A flat tire is one of the most feared things for highway drivers.
Although Hong Kong's roads are generally smooth, a tire blowout can be very dangerous, especially on expressways or long, straight roads in the New Territories countryside. This is because:
- The vehicle loses stability immediately when the tire bursts due to high speed.
- Some roads in Hong Kong do not have curbs (e.g. parts of Tuen Mun Highway), making it difficult to stop immediately;
- The local hot summer, coupled with high load or improper tire pressure, makes it more likely to explode.
I once encountered a seven-seater car with a burst front tire while traveling west on Qingsha Highway. The car swerved erratically. Fortunately, the driver remained calm and controlled the vehicle, otherwise it could have easily crashed into my lane.
🛑 Causes of tire blowouts (common in Hong Kong)
- Insufficient/excessive tire pressure : In summer, if the tire pressure is too high, it is easy to overheat and burst during long-distance highway driving; insufficient tire pressure will cause excessive deformation of the tire wall and overheat.
- Tire aging : Hong Kong drivers sometimes forget to check the age of their tyres. The rubber of tyres over 5 years old becomes hardened and brittle.
- Penetration by sharp objects : There are screws and nails near urban construction sites; there are gravel and glass on rural roads.
- Overloading : Especially during holidays, if a seven-seater car is fully loaded with people and luggage, it is more likely to have a tire blowout when driving at high speed.
- Colliding with a curb/rock edge : The impact force is enough to damage the tire wall structure. Even if it does not explode immediately, there is a risk afterwards.
🚨 Immediate reaction (Editor's three-step method)
When a tire blows out, you'll likely hear a loud "bang!", the steering wheel jerking, and the car pulling to one side. Don't panic. Remember these three key words: steady, control, and stop.
1️⃣ Steady - Stay calm and keep your hands on the steering wheel
- Avoid sudden steering or braking, as this will make the car more unbalanced;
- The goal is to maintain the direction of travel and avoid running into other lanes.
2️⃣ Control - Slowly reduce the throttle and let the speed drop naturally
- Front tire blowout: The front of the car deviates to the side of the blowout tire, and a small correction should be made in the opposite direction ;
- Rear tire blowout: The rear end of the car will swing violently, so keep making fine adjustments and avoid overreacting.
3️⃣ Stop - Find a safe place and slowly pull over
- Try to drive towards the shoulder, escape bay or emergency lane (permanent on Hong Kong highways);
- When the vehicle speed drops below 30km/h, lightly apply the brakes until the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
- Turn on the double yellow warning lights and the tail fog lights at night.
🧰 Safety steps after parking
- Confirm the safety of the environment : First check the vehicles coming from behind to ensure that you are not parking at a blind bend or behind an uphill slope.
- All passengers should get off the bus and go outside the guardrail . For some expressways in Hong Kong, please call 18288 to contact the Highways Department for assistance.
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Place warning equipment :
- Warning triangle: Hong Kong law does not have a hard distance requirement, but it is recommended to keep it 50–100 meters away from the rear of the vehicle on expressways;
- Reflective clothing: Especially important at night.
- Check the tire blowout : determine whether the spare tire can be used for replacement (some vehicles in Hong Kong are equipped with tire repair tools instead of spare tires).
- If you are not sure about repairing it yourself : call for a towing service (Hong Kong insurance often includes free towing).
🔧 Tips for replacing the spare tire (if it's safe)
- The vehicle must be parked on a flat and hard surface ;
- The parking brake is engaged and the gear is in P (automatic transmission) or 1st gear (manual transmission);
- The jack position should be aligned with the chassis support point (see diagram in the owner's manual);
- Loosen the screws → raise → completely remove the tire → change the tire → tighten → get off the car and then tighten again.
⚠️ On Hong Kong's highways, I do not recommend drivers to change tires by themselves as the high-speed traffic is too dangerous and you should call a professional.
📍 Hong Kong's real tire blowout situation and location
- Tuen Mun Highway : High speed and many large vehicles. A tire blowout will affect multiple lanes. A truck tire blowout once caused a complete traffic closure.
- Guangcheng section of Qingsha Highway : It is a long straight road with a steep slope and high vehicle speeds. In the event of a tire blowout, the braking distance will be significantly extended.
- Kwun Tong Bypass near Laguna City : There is no shoulder on the elevated road, and the driver was forced to drive to the exit after the tire burst.
⚠️ Common mistakes when having a flat tire
- Sudden braking : directly causes the vehicle to skid or overturn.
- Let go of the steering wheel : The vehicle will drift along the side of the flat tire, which is extremely dangerous.
- Immediately turn on the double yellow lights at high speed : Stabilize the vehicle body first and then turn on the warning lights to avoid being distracted while operating.
- Cutting across multiple lanes : This will conflict with other vehicles changing lanes, so you should move gradually.
- Continuing to drive for too long : Driving just a few kilometers can damage the rims and even cause a fire.
🛡 Four habits that the editor uses to prevent tire blowouts
- Check tire pressure (including the spare tire) monthly : according to the doorpost markings, you can reduce it by 1–2 psi in the summer.
- Check the tread pattern and fetal age : if the tread pattern is <3mm or the fetal age is >5 years, the tire should be replaced even if it is not worn out.
- Pay attention to any abnormalities in the tire : such as bulges, cracks, or exposed metal wires, and replace the tire immediately.
- Avoid running over foreign objects and hitting curbs .
✅ Editor's four-word formula
When dealing with a tire blowout, remember "steady, controlled, stopped, safe" :
- Steady : Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands;
- Control : Reduce the throttle to correct the direction, do not brake suddenly;
- Stop : Choose a safe position and slowly pull over;
- Safety : evacuate personnel, set up warnings, and seek assistance.
