‘Shoutout to the Kia:' Tesla Gets on Highway With Low Tire Pressure. Her Dashcam Captures the Harrowing Moment Things Go South

Motor 1

3 days ago

A woman went viral on TikTok after sharing the terrifying moment her car's tire flew off while she was driving on the highway.
Simone (@momo.bejan), a beauty and lifestyle blogger, didn't say where she was driving, but in a recent video, she posted dashcam footage from her Tesla showing the tire coming loose mid-drive.
'Don't get on the highway with a low tire pressure, you not gon make it,' she warned in an on-screen caption.
The clip, which had over 228,600 views as of this writing, shows the tire detaching and spinning across lanes, nearly hitting another car. Simone said it happened due to low tire pressure. Fortunately, the other driver braked in time, avoiding what could have been a serious crash.
Why Driving With Low Tire Pressure Is Dangerous
​​Driving with low tire pressure can be a lot more dangerous than it sounds. According to
Car and Driver
, it increases the risk of a blowout, and in some cases, as Simone demonstrated, the entire body of the tire can come off while you're on the road. Moreover, such a failure can cause you to
lose control
of the car, especially at high speeds.
When your tires are underinflated, they flex more as they move,
Toyota
notes. That extra flexing creates heat, and too much heat can cause the tire to explode. A blowout on the highway can send your car swerving or spinning with almost no warning, and it only takes a second for things to go wrong.
In more severe cases, the pressure loss can damage the wheel itself (leading to cracks or dents) or loosen the parts that hold it in place. That's how you end up with videos like Simone's of tires flying off mid-drive. Even if the wheel stays on, driving on low pressure can damage your suspension and other car components.
So, if your tire pressure light comes on, it's essential to take it seriously. If nothing else, try to pull over somewhere safe and check your tires. A quick stop can save you from an expensive repair—or something far worse.
How Do I Know if My Tire Pressure Is Low?
If you pay attention while driving, you might be able to detect whether your car's tire pressure is low before your car formally warns you (usually via a small dashboard light shaped like a horseshoe with an exclamation point).
Nissan
, for instance, notes that you may feel your car ride is softer or spongier than usual, especially over bumps. Or it might pull to one side, take longer to stop, or get noticeably louder as the tires slap the pavement more than they should.
The handy dashboard light, commonly referred to as the
TPMS light
, typically illuminates when one or more tires are underinflated. Still, that light usually doesn't come on until the pressure
drops
by about 25%. It's still worth checking your car manually, especially if you have plans to drive on the highway or take a road trip.
If you're unsure how to check your tire pressure on your own, you don't need to guess. Use a
tire pressure gauge
and compare it to the number listed inside your driver's side door or in your car's manual. And if it's low, inflate it.
Viewers Say Driver Dodged a Bullet
Commenters on Simone's video didn't hold back: She got lucky. Many said the Tesla dashcam footage could've easily turned deadly and gave credit to the Kia driver for reacting fast.
'Y'all don't know how terrifying that is, the wheel could literally make someone flip,' one viewer said.
'Shoutout to the Kia maintaining their lane,' another added.
'That's terrible,' wrote a third. 'I just saw a news report of a girl that was hospitalized bc of a tire crash through a windshield.'
Others were more skeptical, questioning how long Simone had been driving on low pressure.
'Didn't listen to your tire pressure monitor, did you??' one asked.
'Your tire was completely flat for it to do that,' wrote a second.
'That was not low tire pressure, u had no air, and u was riding on straight rubber!! Sorry u had to go thru that,' added a third.
And some used the clip as a wake-up call.
'Whew… Let me go get my tires looked at,' one woman quipped.
'Girl, let me go put some air in my tire,' said another.
Motor1
has reached out to Simone via a direct message on TikTok.
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