A guide I wish I had read before my own close call.

Let me start with this: I didn’t expect it.
No one ever really does.

I was driving on the highway — 75 miles per hour, fully focused, three children in the back seat, dogs in the vehicle, headed home after registering our new travel vehicle, a Lexus LX 470. We were on our way to build a new life. And then, without warning, a rear tire blew out.

The car fishtailed violently.
I tried to control it. I don’t even fully remember how — only that I felt like the best thing I could do was aim for the guardrail, which ultimately stopped us from careening off the road.

We survived. Completely unharmed. Not even a bruise.
But I’ve since learned that many people don’t walk away from situations like that.
And I now understand how important it is to know what to do if a tire blows out at high speeds.

This post is for anyone who, like me, might find themselves in a moment of chaos on the highway and wonder — what do I do now?

Rear Tire Blowouts Are Especially Dangerous

Rear tire blowouts (which is what I had) are among the most dangerous because:

• They destabilize the back end of your vehicle
• They can cause fishtailing or spinning
• They’re harder to feel or respond to than front-tire blowouts
• They’re especially risky in SUVs, vans, and trailers due to the high center of gravity

If you panic or react too quickly, it can make the situation much worse.

What To Do If a Tire Blows Out While Driving on the Highway

Here is what I’ve since learned is the safest way to respond, according to safety experts, and what I wish I had known:

1. Grip the steering wheel firmly

• Expect the car to jerk, pull, or fishtail
• Stay calm and centered — don’t let the wheel fly out of your hands

2. DO NOT slam on the brakes

• This is one of the most dangerous things you can do
• Braking shifts the weight of your car forward and can cause you to lose total control, especially if it’s a rear tire that blew

3. Ease off the accelerator

• Take your foot off the gas — gently
• This allows the car to slow naturally, which helps regain balance

4. Steer gently — no sudden movements

• Try to keep the vehicle straight and centered in your lane
• If it starts to sway or pull, make slow, gentle corrections

5. Wait until your speed has dropped significantly (below ~40 mph)

• Only then should you gently apply the brakes
• Begin guiding the vehicle to the shoulder or a safe area

6. Turn on your hazard lights

• Once stopped, make your vehicle visible
• Exit the vehicle carefully, only if it’s safe to do so, and move away from traffic

If You’re Towing a Trailer

This applies even more.

The added weight and momentum behind you increases the risk of sway or jackknifing. If a trailer tire blows or even a tire on your tow vehicle, the same rules apply — but with even more emphasis on staying calm and not braking.

A Few Things You Can Do Now to Be Safer:

• Check your tire pressure and tire age regularly.
  Tires should be replaced every 6 years, regardless of tread.
• Avoid overloading your vehicle or trailer.
  Weight increases the stress on your tires — especially at high speeds.
• Practice a calm response mentally.
  Just visualizing what to do can prepare your nervous system if it ever happens.
• Store an emergency kit and keep your phone accessible.

You May Only Get One Chance To Respond Well

I’m incredibly lucky. I didn’t respond perfectly, but I stayed focused and acted from instinct. And that instinct — that moment of doing something — saved us.

But now that I know better, I’ll never drive the same way again.
And if you’ve read this post, neither will you.

Please share this with anyone you know who drives, especially those traveling long distances or towing.
Because this information might seem small now — until the moment it isn’t.
And it could mean everything.