The goal in any rapid loss of tire pressure or "blowout" is to keep the vehicle balanced and controllable. Do not panic. Any over-reaction by the driver including slamming on the braes or abruptly removing your foot from the accelerator can result in a loss of vehicle control.

In any blowout situation it's most important to first remember what NOT to do:

Do not stomp on the brake. As instinctive as it may be, it's the worst mistake you can make,. Rapidly releasing the accelerator causes the vehicle to transfer more of its weight from the rear tires to the front tires. With flat tire, this can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.

Instead, in any blowout situation you should follow these 3 steps:

1. Gradually release the acceleration.

2. Correct the steering as necessary to stabilize your vehicle and regain control. Look where you want the vehicle to go and steer in that direction.

3. Once your vehicle has stabilized, continue to slow down and pull off the road where and when you judge it's safe to do so.

Remember, no matter which tire blows out, front or back, the do's and don'ts for safely maintaining control of your vehicle are exactly the same. The only difference between a front and rear tire blowout is that you will fell the force of front blowout more in the vehicles' steering, while you'll feel a rear blowout more in the rear or body of he vehicle.

Most blowouts are caused by too little air pressure allowing the tire to flex beyond its elastic limits until it overheats to the point where the rubber loses its bond to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement. In the summer time the higher temperatures combined with overloading and high speeds increase the chances of a blowout.