> **Quick Answer:** Do not try to drive on a blown tire at highway speed. Steer firmly, ease off the gas, and coast to the shoulder without braking hard. Once stopped, get everyone out of the car on the guard-rail side, away from traffic. If the tire is shredded or the rim is damaged, you need a tow. Call roadside assistance or a tow truck before you attempt anything else.
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## What To Do
1. **Keep both hands on the wheel.** A blowout pulls hard to one side. Grip tight, resist the urge to yank the wheel the other direction.
2. **Do not brake immediately.** Braking on a blown tire at speed can spin the car. Ease off the accelerator and let engine drag slow you down first.
3. **Signal and steer toward the shoulder.** Move gradually. You want the rightmost shoulder possible, away from the travel lanes. If there is an exit ramp close, take it.
4. **Get as far off the road as you can.** Tires and doors parked six inches from a travel lane get clipped by mirrors every day. Pull forward past the guardrail opening if one exists, or onto a flat patch of dirt if the shoulder is narrow.
5. **Turn on your hazard lights the moment the tire blows.** Not after you stop. Right now.
6. **Get out on the passenger side.** Everyone exits away from traffic, including you. Move behind the guardrail if there is one. Do not stand behind the car.
7. **Assess the damage honestly.** Look at the tire and the rim. If the sidewall is gone or the rim is sitting on pavement, driving is not an option. Even limping to the next exit risks losing control again and destroying an expensive wheel. If you have a spare that is properly inflated and the rim looks undamaged, changing it is viable. If there is any doubt, call a tow.
8. **Call for help.** Use your phone to contact roadside assistance, your insurance's tow line, or a direct tow company. Give them your exact location using a highway mile marker if you can see one, or drop a pin and read the coordinates. For tips on finding the cheapest option, see [roadside assistance without insurance membership cost](/roadside-assistance-without-insurance-membership-cost/).
9. **Stay visible but protected.** If you have road flares or reflective triangles, place them 50 to 100 feet behind the vehicle. If you do not, stay behind the guardrail and keep hazards running. Do not stand near the car waiting.
10. **Do not accept a ride from a stranger.** Wait for the tow truck or a law enforcement officer. If a state trooper stops, let them help manage traffic while you wait.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## What It Might Cost
A standard tow from a highway shoulder to a nearby shop runs **$75 to $150** for the first five miles, then **$3 to $7 per mile** after that. If you are far from a shop, costs climb fast. Flatbed tows, which are better for a car with rim damage, sit at the higher end. Check your insurance policy first. Many roadside assistance add-ons cover one tow per incident with no out-of-pocket cost.
Tire replacement at a shop ranges from **$100 to $250 per tire** installed, depending on your vehicle's size and the brand. If the rim bent or cracked, add **$75 to $300** for rim replacement or repair.
If you have kids in the car when this happens, the priority order does not change but the stress goes up. Read through [car broke down with kids in car safety steps](/car-broke-down-with-kids-in-car-safety-steps/) before that scenario ever applies to you.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## Stay Safe
- Never change a tire in a live travel lane. If the shoulder is too narrow to work safely, wait for a tow.
- Keep your spare, jack, and lug wrench in the car and confirm the spare is inflated at every oil change.
- A shredded tire can throw rubber at high speed. Do not walk behind a car with a blown tire while traffic is moving nearby.
- If you are on a bridge or in a tunnel when the tire blows, [car broke down on a bridge](/car-broke-down-on-bridge-what-to-do/) covers the specific risks and steps for that situation.
- At night, stay in the car with doors locked if you cannot get behind a barrier. Hazards on, interior light off.
- If the spare is also flat, you have no good options for self-rescue. [Tire blew out and spare is also flat](/tire-blew-out-spare-is-also-flat-what-to-do/) walks through exactly what to do in that case.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/blown-tire-highway-too-dangerous-to-drive/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
Blown Tire on Highway Too Dangerous to Drive: What to Do Right Now
Photo: Pexels