1996 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 226

If a Tire Goes Flat It's unusual for a tire to "blow out" while you're driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly. But if youshould 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 bralie to a stop well out of the traffic lane. Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers. I CAUTILN: A A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and mayrequire the same correction you'd use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove yourfoot 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, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely. Changing atire can causean injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack and over you or other roll people. You and they could be badly injured. Find a level placeto change your tire. help To prevent the vehicle from moving: 1. Set theparking brake firmly. 2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in PARK (P), or shift a manual transmission to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (a). 3. Turn off the engine. To be even more certain the vehicle won't move, you canput blocks at the front and rear the of tire farthest away from the one being changed. That would bethe tire on the other side of the vehicle, at the opposite end. 5-27