If a Tire Goes FlatIt is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leakout slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, hereare a few tips about what to expect and what to do:If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a drag that pullsthe vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off theaccelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.Steer to maintain lane position, and then gentlybrake to a stop well out of the traffic lane.A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts muchlike a skid and may require the same correction youwould use in a skid. In any rear blowout removeyour foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicleunder control by steering the way you want the vehicleto go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you canstill steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the roadif possible.{CAUTION:Lifting a vehicle and getting under it todo maintenance or repairs is dangerouswithout the appropriate safety equipment andtraining. The jack provided with your vehicleis designed only for changing a flat tire. If itis used for anything else, you or others couldbe badly injured or killed if the vehicle slipsoff the jack. Use the jack provided with yourvehicle only for changing a flat tire.If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use thejacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.5-76
