How to avoid Tyre Burst / Blowout – 10 helpful tips

Tyres are without any doubt one of the most important part of any vehicle. Over the years, a lot of research and technology has been done by tyre manufacturers to improve the grip, life and make them more reliable. We have heard of several incidents or accidents which happened due to tyre bursts or blowouts. This is one of the worst nightmare for a car driver especially when driving at high speeds. A tyre burst at high speed can make the car go out of control and lead to accidents. Here we have 10 tips that would help you minimise or avoid the chances of a tyre burst.

Do Not Overspeed

This is one of the basic thing that you have to follow while driving. By overspeed we don not mean exceeding the rated speed of the tyre but sticking to the road speed limit. Especially on concrete roads or highways. In comparison to a tar road, concrete roads heat up much faster. Delhi-Agra Expressway is infamous for this. There have been several incidents on this highway where the tyre of vehicles have burst at high speeds especially during summers. Staying within the speed limit also helps the driver to gain back the control on vehicle even if the tyre bursts.

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Check tyres for bulges/cuts before every long/high speed journey

If you are planning a long road trip in your car, it is always recommended to check the condition of the tyre before starting the trip. If you find any bulges or cuts on the tyre, replace it with a spare wheel before starting the journey. Such bulges and cuts can actually lead to tyre burst while you are on a long road trip.

Take frequent breaks

Another thing that one should keep in mind while on long road trips is breaks. It is always a good idea to take break after 2 hours of continuous driving. Driving on concrete highways and expressways increases the chances of tyre burst due to pent-up pressure. Such breaks would allow the tyres to cool down hence minimising the chances of a tyre burst.

Avoid under/over inflating the tyres

Both under and over inflating the tyre is a recipe for tyre burst. Under inflated tyres put a lot more pressure on the tyre sidewalls. This increases the chances of the sidewall rupturing at high speed. Over inflating increases the pressure in tyre and once again the chances of tyre bursting are more in this case. It is always recommended to maintain a tyre pressure specified by the manufacturer.

Check tyre pressure regularly

This practice would actually help you keep an eye of the tyre pressure and you can also notice any small punctures in the tyres especially if you are driving on tubeless tyres. Checking the pressure in tyres once a week is sufficient and you can always carry a handy tyre pressure gauge if you do not trust the air pressure gauge at the fuel station.

Replace worn out tyres on time

Another mistake that people often make with tyres is that they keep on using tyres with depleted tread. You should know that tyre is a crucial componen of your car and that is the only point of contact with the road when you are driving it. If the tyre is not in a good condition, the performance of the car would also be affected. A worn out tyre can easily burst at high speeds. It is always recommended to get the tyres replaced when the safe operating limit has reached.

Do not use retreaded tyres or side-wall repaired tyres

Retreaded tyres might be cheaper than new ones but that does not mean they are safe. Same is the case with side-wall repaired tyres. A retreaded tyre can be dangerous as the tread has already depleted from the manufacturer specification. In case of a tubeless tyre, where people usually use tube to make up the damaged side wall can also break or burst at high speeds. Both these practices are equally dangerous and must be avoided.

Avoid unknown tyre manufacturers and insist on BIS marked tyres

Buying tyre from an unknown or a Chinese brand might be cheaper but it is not a good idea as it might be compromising the quality. Low quality tyres increase the chance of a tyre burst as they might not be able to handle pressure that a good quality tyre can. It is always a good idea to buy a branded tyre that meets government standards.

Avoid overloading

Every time you overload your car, you are putting more pressure on the tyre and other components. If you overload the vehicle on a regular basis, this would reduce the life of your tyres and other components like suspension. If you are planning to go on a road trip, never overload the car as there are chances that the tyre might burst due to too much pressure.

Discard a tubeless tyre that has run for a long distance with a puncture

In comparison to tyre with tube, tubeless tyres are more flexible when it comes to puncture. You can still drive a car with tubeless tyre to a nearest puncture shop and get it fixed. One should drive the car at a very low speed. If you have to drive the car with a puncture for a very long distance, the strength of the tyre weakens. In such cases even after fixing the puncture there are chances that the tyre might soon have another puncture or can even blow up at high speeds. It is always recommended to discard a tubeless tyre that has run for a long distance with a puncture in it.

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