Published 2026-05-10 · By Sakhawat Hussain
A tyre blowout at motorway speed is one of the most frightening experiences a driver can have. The sudden loud bang, the violent pull to one side, and the rapid loss of control can cause panic — and panic is the most dangerous thing in those first few seconds. Here is what to do if it happens to you.
The most important thing to understand about a blowout is that your instincts will work against you. When the car lurches to the side, your instinct is to brake hard and steer away from the pull. Do not do either of these things. Both will make the situation worse.
When you feel or hear the blowout, grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Keep your foot off the brake. If the car is accelerating, ease off the accelerator gradually — do not lift off sharply, as this can also destabilise the vehicle. Hold the wheel straight and let the car slow naturally. Your job in the first few seconds is simply to maintain control and a straight line.
As the car slows, very gently apply the brakes — not hard, not suddenly. Steer calmly towards the left lane, then the hard shoulder. Activate your hazard lights as soon as you safely can.
Once you reach the hard shoulder, pull as far to the left as possible — ideally onto the verge if there is space. Switch off the engine. Exit the vehicle from the left side (away from traffic) and get yourself and any passengers behind the barrier. Do not stand next to the car or in front of it — a car struck from behind by a lorry at motorway speed can be pushed a significant distance. Stand well beyond the barrier and at the front of your car's position.
Call 999 if you are in immediate danger. Call the Highways England traffic officer service on 0300 123 5000 to report your location and situation. Then call TT Mobile Tyre Fitting 24/7 on 07762 455291 — we cover the M6, M5, M42, M54 and surrounding motorway network across the West Midlands and can reach you 24 hours a day.
What causes a blowout? The most common causes are a sudden impact with a large pothole or debris in the road, a tyre that has been run at severely low pressure for a period of time (causing heat build-up and structural failure), a sidewall already weakened by a previous impact or cut, or a tyre that is well past its safe replacement age. A tyre blowout rarely happens without some form of prior warning — if you have been ignoring a slow puncture, a pressure warning light, or a bulge you noticed in the sidewall, these are the precursors to a blowout.
The difference between a blowout and a puncture is speed and severity. A puncture usually allows you time to notice and respond. A blowout is immediate and complete. If you notice your car pulling to one side, a vibration that was not there before, or a pressure warning light, deal with it before it becomes a blowout. Call 07762 455291 and we will come to you anywhere across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Coventry and the West Midlands — day or night.