Intense summer heat can take quite a toll on Las Vegas drivers and their cars. It’s the most dangerous time of the year for tire blowouts, but there are precautions you can take to avoid one happening to you.
Causes of Tire Blowouts
Most tire blowouts are caused by overloading your vehicle, but the hot temperature is a huge factor in Las Vegas. Tires often display warning signs that a blowout may occur. If you want to avoid a catastrophe, you should inspect your vehicle’s tires for the following clues.
- Your tires may show varying wear. While it’s normal for the front and back tires to wear differently, each set should wear the same.
- Look for areas where the tread has severely degraded. Use the “quarter test” to check: insert a quarter into the tread of the tire with the head side facing you. If you still see the hairline, the tire should be replaced.
- Low tire pressure can cause a tire blowout.
- Have you noticed any vibration while driving? It may be caused by a damaged tire.
What to Do During a Tire Blowout
If you find yourself in the middle of a tire blowout, here’s how you should handle it:
- Ride it out. Tire blowouts usually cause some loss of steering control. Resist the urge to overcorrect and turn hard against the direction the car is drifting. Instead, try to ride out the blowout by steering straight and letting the blown-out tire slow the car down.
- Don’t hit the brakes. You could cause the car to spin out.
- Give it some gas. But just a little. That will help counter the pull of the tire. Stepping on the accelerator a bit will not speed up your car but will help stabilize it. You can then ease your car to the shoulder.
- Wait for help. Once you get your car safely off the road, turn on the flashers and exit on the side of the car that faces the shoulder. Call for roadside assistance.
Tread Carefully with Tires
Tire blowouts are both scary and inconvenient. To stay safe, make regular vehicle maintenance and tire inspections a part of your routine. Bring your car or pickup truck into one of Valley Automall’s 19 dealerships to have your tires checked out. One of our skilled technicians will evaluate your vehicle from bumper to bumper, including the tires, brakes, battery, belts, wipers, oil, filter, and all essential fluids. It’s the insurance policy you need to protect you and your vehicle from a tire blowout. Contact us today at 702-570-2257 to learn more.