1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 234

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 you should ever havea "blowout," here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, the flat tirewill create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your'foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer tomaintain lane position, and then gently brake 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. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, actsmuch 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. Air Inflator (Option) Your vehicle may have an air inflator used to bring tires up to the proper pressure. See "Air Inflator System" in the Index for more details. Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack androll over you or other people. You and they could be badly injured. Find a level place to change your tire. To 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 thevehicle won't move, you can putblocks at the front and rear the of tire farthestaway from theone being changed. That would be the tire on the other of the side vehicle, at the opposite end. 5-22