1997 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 239

If .aTire Goes Flat It's unusual for a tire to "blow out" whde 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 you should ever have a "blowout," here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, theflat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take yourfoot 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. Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes fiat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on you. azard w aming flashers. 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, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely. Changing a tire can cause injury. Thevehicle an can slipoff the jack and roll over or other you people. You and they could be badly injured. To Find a level place to change your tire. help prevent thevehicle from moving: 1. Set the parking brake firmly. 2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P). 3. Turn off the engine. To be even more certain the vehicle won't move, you can putblocks at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That would be the tireon the other side the of vehicle, at the opposite end. 5-26