This is what to do when a tire bursts

A tire burst is feared by every driver. If you experience this, the potential for experiencing a fatal driving accident is quite large. Therefore, it is very important to know what steps to take when a tire suddenly breaks on the road.

In November 2019, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), Soerjanto Tjahjono, stated that 80 percent of vehicle accidents on the highway were caused by problems with the tires. The trigger is mostly lack of tire pressure, resulting in the tire bursting.

This condition is increasingly visible on toll roads. Apart from improper tire air pressure, tire bursts there are also often caused by the use of bald tires and bumpy tires due to holes in the road. 

No one wants to experience a burst tire on the road. However, when that happens, the driver must be able to react appropriately. 

The first and most important step to take is to remain calm. Try not to panic. It's not easy, but it really determines your own safety.

Then avoid the urge to hit the brakes. It is very natural for a tire to suddenly burst and the desire to brake the car arises. However, don't do that because it could have fatal consequences.

If you press the brake pedal, the weight will be concentrated on the broken tire. As a result, if the steering wheel is pulled towards a burst tire, the car can skid and even overturn. Therefore, immediately move away from the brakes when the car tire bursts.

Then, for manual transmission cars, avoid pressing the clutch or lowering the transmission gear. If the clutch is fully pressed, it will actually keep the vehicle moving and the deceleration function of the engine brake will not work. Meanwhile, lowering the transmission to a low gear could risk the vehicle speed becoming wilder due to oversteer or understeer.

CORRECT ACTION

The most appropriate action when a tire bursts is to try to stay calm and hold the steering wheel firmly. Position your hands on the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock points so that the car's speed remains well controlled. 

Then direct the car to the shoulder of the road while turning on the left signal light. Also look in the rearview mirror to see whether the lane to move to the side of the road is free from other vehicles or not. If safe, immediately move the car to the shoulder of the road.

At the same time, slowly release your foot from the gas pedal. Try to reduce speed slowly so that the car is safe. This step allows engine braking to occur to reduce the car's speed.

After the speed decreases to 30 km/hour, start stopping the car by pressing the brake. Also immediately turn on the hazard lights as a warning to other passing vehicles.

After stopping properly, install the safety triangle at the rear. Drivers can start changing tires on the side of the road. 

However, to prevent car tires from bursting, drivers can check the condition of the tires first before traveling. See if the pressure is as recommended. Then, also clean the tires from foreign objects such as gravel or sharp objects stuck to them.

Also look at the age of the tire and the thickness of the tread as indicated by the Thread Wear Indicator. If it is nearing the end of its service life, it is better to replace it with new tires. Likewise if the tire thickness has decreased. This step will be able to prevent car tires from bursting on the road.