Blown Tire at Highway Speed: What to Do Right Now: Roadside Tips

A tire blowout at highway speed is one of the fastest ways a normal drive turns into a fatality. The car will pull hard toward the blown tire. Every instinct you have will tell you to brake and steer away from the pull. Both of those instincts will make things worse.

> **Quick Answer:** Do not brake hard or jerk the wheel. Keep a firm two-handed grip, hold your lane, and ease off the gas. Let the car slow naturally, then steer gradually toward the shoulder once you are below 40 mph. Put on your hazards, get completely off the road, and call for a tow. Never change a tire in a live traffic lane.

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## What To Do

1. **Grip the wheel with both hands and hold your line.** The car will lurch. Resist it with steady counter-pressure, not a hard jerk. Jerking causes rollovers.

2. **Take your foot off the gas.** Do not touch the brake yet. Let engine braking and road friction slow you down naturally. This keeps the car stable.

3. **Maintain your speed briefly, then ease toward the shoulder.** Counter-intuitive, but keeping some forward momentum helps you steer. Signal, check mirrors, and move right gradually.

4. **Brake gently once you are below 40 mph.** Light, steady pressure only. If you have ABS, you can brake a little more firmly, but there is no reason to rush it.

5. **Get as far off the road as possible.** Past the white line is not far enough. Get onto the grass or gravel if you can. Distance from traffic is what keeps you alive.

6. **Turn on your hazard lights the moment the blowout happens.** Do this even before you start steering to the shoulder. Other drivers need warning immediately.

7. **Stay in your car or get well away from it.** If you are on an interstate, sitting inside with your seatbelt on is safer than standing near traffic. If you smell fuel or see smoke, get out and move far from the vehicle. Read more about what to do when your [car broke down on the freeway](/car-broke-down-on-freeway-what-to-do/) if you need guidance on the full stop situation.

8. **Call for a tow.** If the spare is in the trunk and you are parked safely on a wide shoulder away from traffic, changing it yourself is an option. But on a narrow shoulder or at night, it is not worth the risk. A blown tire often damages the wheel, meaning a spare will not solve the problem anyway.

9. **Do not attempt to drive on the rim.** Even a short distance destroys the wheel, the brake rotor, and sometimes the suspension. The repair cost jumps from a tire to several thousand dollars.

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![hazard lights car road](/images/blown-tire-highway-speed-what-to-do/mid.jpg)
*Photo: Pexels*

## What It Might Cost

A standard tow from the highway to a tire shop runs **$75 to $150** for the first 5 to 10 miles. Longer distances add $3 to $7 per mile. If the wheel is damaged, expect to pay $200 to $600 for a replacement rim on top of the tire. Check whether your roadside assistance policy covers this before you pay out of pocket. Knowing your [towing cost from the highway to the nearest exit](/towing-cost-from-highway-to-nearest-exit/) can help you estimate before the truck arrives.

If you carry roadside assistance through your insurer, most policies cover the tow. Confirm your coverage limits before you assume you are protected. See how insurers like [GEICO handle towing coverage](/geico-roadside-assistance-towing-coverage-how-much-pays/) so you know what reimbursement to expect.

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![tow truck highway](/images/blown-tire-highway-speed-what-to-do/bottom.jpg)
*Photo: Pexels*

## Stay Safe

- Set out road flares or reflective triangles at least 100 feet behind your car if you have them.
- Keep your seatbelt on while waiting inside the vehicle on a narrow shoulder.
- If you exit the car, move away from traffic, not toward it. Get behind a guardrail if one is present.
- Never stand between your car and oncoming traffic while changing a tire.
- At night, wear anything reflective you have in the car. A phone flashlight pointed toward oncoming traffic is better than nothing.
- If you feel unsafe on the shoulder, [a dangerous stop location changes your priorities](/car-broke-down-bad-neighborhood-night-what-to-do/). Call 911 and tell dispatch your exact location.

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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/blown-tire-highway-speed-what-to-do/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*