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If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. See Tires on page 392. If air goes out of
a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout”,
here are a few tips about what to expect and
what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the way you want
the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and
noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop — well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, and your vehicle has a spare
tire, see Changing a Flat Tire (CTS Only) on
page 424. This information shows you how to
use your vehicle’s tire changing equipment
and how to change a flat tire safely.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
flat tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a flat tire.
Run-Flat Tires (CTS-V)
If your vehicle has run-flat tires, there is no spare
tire and no tire changing equipment. Run-flat
tires can operate effectively with no air pressure
for a limited distance and speed.
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