Vehicle tire blowouts are not only inconvenient but can also pose serious safety hazards on the road. Whether you’re on a cross-country road trip or just commuting around town, a blown tire can lead to loss of control, damage to your vehicle, and an unexpected roadside stop.
The good news is that many tire blowouts may be preventable with the right maintenance and safe driving habits.
Key takeaways
- Underinflation, overloading, poor maintenance, and road hazards are among the most common causes of tire blowouts.
- During a tire blowout, stay calm, steer straight, and let the vehicle slow down gradually before pulling over.
- Auto insurance and roadside assistance can help handle towing, repairs, and other costs that come with a blown-out tire.
What is a tire blowout?
A tire blowout is a sudden failure of a tire that causes it to rapidly lose air. Unlike a slow leak or a flat tire, a blowout occurs while driving and is often accompanied by a loud pop or bang followed by:
- A strong pull to one side of the vehicle
- Difficulty steering or controlling the car
- Flapping or thumping noises from the damaged tire
Blowouts are especially dangerous at high speeds, such as when driving on freeways or highways, because they can cause drivers to react suddenly and lose control.
What causes tire blowouts?
Underinflation
One of the primary causes of tire blowouts is underinflation. When your tires do not have enough air:
- More of the tire’s surface contacts the road
- Friction increases and generates excess heat
- The tire’s internal structure weakens over time
That extra heat and stress can eventually cause the tire to fail, often at highway speeds, which is, of course, highly dangerous.
To prevent tire underinflation:
- Check tire pressure at least once a month and before long trips.
- Use the manufacturer’s recommended PSI, which can be found inside the driver’s side door or within the owner’s manual.
- Recheck pressure when outside temperatures change significantly, since cold weather can reduce tire pressure.
Overloading
Loading a vehicle beyond its recommended weight capacity puts excessive stress on the tires. You can exceed the maximum load rating in several ways:
- Carrying heavy cargo
- Towing more than your vehicle is rated for
- Overloading the trunk or roof rack
Overloading your vehicle puts extra stress on your tires. The added weight increases heat and can cause the tire’s sidewall to flex beyond what it’s designed to handle, raising the risk of a blowout.
You can prevent overloading your tires by:
- Checking your vehicle’s official weight rating and payload capacity
- Avoiding stacking heavy items on top of each other in the trunk or cargo area
- Distributing weight evenly across the vehicle
Poor tire maintenance: Neglecting the basics
Failure to do routine tire maintenance can turn minor issues into major problems. Some common maintenance gaps that increase your tire blowout risk are:
- Never rotating your tires, which leads to uneven wear
- Skipping alignment or balancing after hitting curbs or potholes
- Ignoring visible damage like cuts, bubbles, or bulges
Uneven or excessive wear can weaken parts of the tire, and when that weak spot is stressed frequently or at high speeds, it can fail without warning.
Here are a few tire maintenance tips:
- Rotate your tires every 5,000-8,000 miles or as recommended by your auto repair shop or car owner’s manual.
- Ask your mechanic to inspect tires during routine service.
- Have your tires inspected promptly if you notice bulges, cracks, exposed cords, balding, or deep cuts.
For more tire care tips, you can also read this article on car maintenance and the importance of maintaining your vehicle.
Potholes and road hazards
Road conditions play a significant role in tire health, and even the most well-maintained tire can’t always stand up to severe road hazards like:
- Deep potholes
- Sharp debris like nails, glass, and metal
- Raised manhole covers or broken pavement
- Curbs that have been struck at a high speed or a sharp angle
Impacts like these can cause instant blowouts, sidewall bulges which are a sign of internal tire damage, or punctures that rapidly release air. To reduce the risk of a road hazard blowout:
- Slow down on rough roads and after things like heavy storms, when debris is more common.
- Leave extra space between you and the vehicle ahead so you have more time to react to hazards.
- Avoid sudden swerving—if you can’t steer around a hazard safely, slow down as much as possible before you reach it.
Old and worn-out tires
Tires have a finite lifespan, and their structural integrity can deteriorate, even if you don’t drive often. Age, wear, and weather can all weaken tires:
- Rubber dries out and cracks over time
- Sun exposure and extreme temperatures speed up aging
- Low tread depth makes tires more vulnerable to damage and blowouts
Many experts recommend replacing tires about every six years, even if they still have tread, and always replacing them once they’re 10 years old or more, regardless of appearance. You can find your tire’s age by reading the “DOT” code on the sidewall. The last four digits show the week and year that the tire was made.
Manufacturing defects
While relatively rare, manufacturing defects can also contribute to tire blowouts. There are various manufacturing issues that could cause a tire to fail unexpectedly, like:
- Weak spots in the rubber
- Faulty bonding between layers
- Problems in the bead or sidewall
What should you do if you suspect a defect?
- Register new tires when you buy them, so you’ll be notified of any tire recalls.
- If you suspect an issue with your tire, check online for your specific tire to see if it has been recalled.
- Talk to your tire retailer if you notice unusual wear patterns or repeated problems with a single tire.
What should you do if you have a tire blowout?
Knowing what to do during a tire blowout can help you stay calm and in control. It’s best to make sure you know how to handle your car to avoid making the situation worse.
- Stay calm and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.
- Avoid slamming on the brakes. Sudden braking can cause you to lose control of the car.
- Gently ease off the accelerator and let your vehicle slow down gradually.
- Steer straight, avoiding sharp steering and keeping your vehicle in its lane as best you can.
- Signal and carefully move to the shoulder or a safe, flat area once your vehicle has slowed to a safe speed.
- Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers that you’ve stopped for an emergency.
- Call for roadside assistance if you don’t have the tools or experience to change the tire safely.
If you’re a customer of The General® and have roadside assistance, you may be able to get help with things like towing, tire changes, and other roadside problems.
What is road hazard protection on tires?
Tire road hazard protection, or a road hazard warranty, is a type of protection that helps pay to repair or replace a tire damaged by everyday road hazards that can’t be reasonably avoided.
Tire road hazard protection isn’t a product offered by The General. Instead, this protection can often be purchased through the company where you purchase your new tires.
What does a road hazard warranty cover?
Exact coverage depends on your individual plan, but tire road hazard warranties typically cover things like punctures, impact damage from things like potholes or irregular roads, and cuts in the sidewall caused by unavoidable road hazards. When covered damage occurs, some plans may offer a full replacement of the tire within a certain time frame. Others may even provide long-term prorated coverage as the tire wears down.
However, it’s important to read the terms of your warranty to understand what exactly your road hazard protection covers. Some plans may limit how many claims you can make per tire or per set, so it’s best to see what’s excluded up front.
How auto insurance helps after a tire blowout
While tire road hazard protection focuses on the tire itself, auto insurance may help with the bigger picture if a blowout leads to a collision with another vehicle or object, or further damage to your own vehicle such as your fender or wheel. It may also help with towing, storage, or rental costs depending on your coverage.
Depending on your policy, you may be able to get help with:
- Collision coverage to help repair your vehicle if a blowout leads to a covered collision
- Comprehensive coverage, which may apply if the damage is caused by a covered non-collision event
- Roadside assistance, which may help with towing or changing a tire so you can get to a repair shop
Why drivers trust The General®
When a blowout or other unexpected event happens, you want an insurance company that will be there for its customers. Drivers have chosen The General time and time again because of our commitment to providing high-quality coverage at an affordable price. The General also has:
- Designed for everyday drivers: From flexible payment options to convenient online quotes, The General focuses on making car insurance accessible, especially for drivers who don’t have a perfect record.
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating: The General® brand products are underwritten by a member of the Sentry Insurance Group. Sentry has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (superior), current as of July 2026. See ambest.com/ratings/guide.pdf for rating information.
When dealing with something as stressful as a tire blowout, it helps to know your insurance company is ready to help you get back on the road. The General is here to help you move forward.
