You have a flat tyre what should you do

Dealing With A Flat Tyre

You've got a flat tyre. So, what should you do now? Some drivers go through life without ever experiencing a flat tyre, while others appear to be cursed to have to deal with it regularly. Whatever your current situation is, you must be prepared to act if the worst occurs, as you won't always have someone to help you through it. Fortunately, we are here to guide you in dealing with a flat tyre.

In this article, we will help you through a step-by-step guide in the event that you experience a flat tyre, including how to fix and replace it. We will also give you insightful tips on reducing the chances of getting a flat tyre.

What To Do When You Notice A Flat Tyre

Kudos on spotting a flat tyre while your car is parked! Appreciate the lucky stars that you weren't on the move when this happened. If this is the case, you can skip ahead to the section on changing your tyre. However, if you are on the road and discover you have a flat tyre, it is critical that you take caution and carefully consider your options.

Identify if your car's tyre is flat while driving

A flat tyre is considerably more likely to happen from a little puncture that causes a constant air leak than a violent blowout, which you'd be hard-pressed not to notice. Therefore, it can take up to a few metres or more for drivers to notice they have a puncture. If one of your tyres loses air pressure over time, you will notice the car tugging to one side (the flat tyre's side).

It will also be far more difficult for you to steer and manoeuvre your vehicle. As you might expect, developing a lack of control over your car necessitates bringing your vehicle to a complete stop as soon as feasible. Once you realise that your car's tyre is flat, you should first:

Get to a safe place

Some drivers attempt to continue slowly going over the hard shoulder after discovering they have a flat tyre to reach the closest petrol station or stop. However, this is not a wise decision. You can get the tyre repaired or replaced using roadside assistance, but this isn't always the case.

A flat tyre, as previously mentioned, makes it extremely difficult to control your car, putting you and other road users in grave danger. As a result, travelling long distances or at high speeds on a flat tyre is not recommended. Instead, you should seek out a safe location to pull over as quickly as possible.

Pull over to the hard shoulder if you are on a dual carriageway or a highway. When repositioning your car, take extreme caution and give other road users plenty of warning. If you are on a back road, attempt to park where you won't be too much of a hindrance to approaching traffic.

Contact roadside assist

Breakdown support, often known as roadside assistance, is a service that helps you get back on the road if your vehicle breaks down. When you call for assistance, your service provider will most likely attempt to resolve your issue over the phone. If they can't, they will send a roadside contractor to mobilise your car or a truck to tow it to a nearby technician (within service limits).

Once you've come to a complete stop, consider whether it is actually safe to change your tyre. You should only change a tyre if you can do so safely without endangering yourself or others; otherwise, call a breakdown service. Changing a tyre when on the hard shoulder of a highway or the side of the road should be avoided since you risk getting in the line of oncoming traffic, resulting in tragic consequences.

Additionally, do not attempt to change a tyre in the dark if you drive at night. Even if you wear a luminous vest, oncoming motorists might not be able to see you. So, if you are unsure of whether changing your tyre is safe, call a breakdown service. On the other hand, if you have enough room and are confident that you won't be in anyone's way, you are almost ready to change your tyre!

Make sure you have all the necessary tools

Before you rush out and start changing your tyre, double-check that you have everything you need to complete the task successfully. After all, changing a tyre is a big undertaking that necessitates the use of a few specific tools. The following list focuses on the tools that you need to have in your repair kit:

• Spare tyres - Always guarantee that your spare wheel is in good shape in case of an emergency.

• A vehicle jack

• Wheel chocks to keep your automobile from rolling as you change the tyre.

• A wheel nut key and a wheel wrench (if you have locking nuts).

• Your vehicle's handbook will assist you in determining where the jack should be attached.

• A pair of gloves - Your wheel will very certainly be filthy.

• A torch (in case you need to replace your tyre at night).

• A luminous jacket and a reflective warning triangle (to guarantee you're entirely visible to incoming traffic).

Ideally, you should already have these necessities in your vehicle! If you do not, ensure to equip your repair kit fully. Of course, you shouldn't attempt to change your tyre if you don't have the necessary tools or if you're in a risky situation. Simply contact a breakdown service, and they will tow you to safety and take care of the situation.

Step-By-Step Guide To Changing A Flat Tyre

Step One: Stop and get your car ready

When you are sure you've found a safe spot, come to a complete stop and apply the handbrake. Select first gear (or P if your car is automatic), turn off the engine and turn on your hazard lights. You must be on level ground, as uneven ground will cause your vehicle to roll. You must then exit your vehicle and ensure that all passengers are standing a safe distance from the road and car.

If you are changing a tyre near a significant road, consider wearing a luminous jacket to guarantee that you are fully visible to approaching vehicles. A reflective warning triangle may also be helpful in alerting other road users to the presence of a potential hazard or barrier ahead.

Step Two: Ensure your vehicle does not roll

You definitely want to avoid the chance of your car rolling away when changing its tyre for apparent reasons. As a result, you'll need to have your wheel chock(s) on hand. If you only have one, put it beneath the diagonally opposite wheel from the one you are replacing. If you have more than one wheel chock, place them beneath the other wheels as a precaution.

Step Three: Raise the car

If you have never replaced the tyres on your current car, we recommend reviewing the owner's manual to learn where the jacking points are located. These points vary depending on the vehicle. Therefore, you need to double-check even if you have ever changed a tyre on a different vehicle. Once you have identified and confirmed the location of the jacking points, attach your car jack and slowly lift your vehicle until it's about 10cm off the ground.

Step Four: Loosen the wheel nuts

Now it's time to loosen the wheel nuts. Grab your wheel wrench and carefully loosen the wheel nuts in an anti-clockwise orientation. While you are busy doing this, try to keep an eye on your equilibrium because if you are not careful, the wheel nuts could give way and cause you to fall. Once you are done, proceed to remove the flat tyre.

Step Five: Replace the flat tyre with a new one

Once you have gotten rid of the flat tyre, it's time to put the new one on the frame. Then, by hand, tighten the wheel nuts. Lower the jack to reach the point where the wheels are just touching the ground. You will then need to tighten the wheel nuts as much as feasible using your wheel wrench.

Step Six: Place the flat tyre in the trunk

All that remains is for you to place the damaged flat tyre in your boot. You can then choose to get it fixed (assuming the damage isn't too severe) or adequately dispose of it. Remember to remove it from your boot when you get home so it doesn't take up valuable storage space.

You'll know just what to do once you get a flat tyre. Of course, if you'd prefer to avoid the whole ordeal, you can do a few things to reduce the possibility of getting a flat tyre.

Tips On How To Avoid A Flat Tyre

Check your tyres regularly

To avoid getting a flat tyre, take the time to check your tyres regularly, paying close attention to the tread. Examine the area for abrasions or foreign items, such as nails. If you come across something, you must proceed with caution while selecting your next course of action.

Taking out a nail, for example, could be the wisest course of action because it prevents the nail from piercing the tyre. On the other hand, the nail could be the sole item preventing the hole, resulting in a rapid deflation. So, whenever you remove something from your tyre, keep an eye on it to check whether any air is coming out of it. You do not want to be met by surprises once you are on the highway.

Make sure the tyre pressure is correct

Unfortunately, even weekly tyre inspections aren't enough to keep you from getting a flat tyre while driving. After all, if a puncture is small enough, you might not see it even if you crouch down to inspect it. As a result, investing in a hand-held pressure gauge might be convenient to check if the tyre pressure is within the specified range in your vehicle's owner's manual.

It won't take long, and it might save you a lot of money and time in the long run. If you want to check your tyre pressure, wait until the tyres have cooled down before doing so. Your tyres heat up as you drive, resulting in erroneous pressure readings.

Take a second opinion

If you're unsure what to be on the lookout for or suspect your tyres aren't in great shape, you should take your car to a local garage to have them checked out by a professional. Even if you are afraid about having to pay more than you want to get them replaced, it's still a better option than having your car pulled off a highway because you didn't bother.

You Can Contact Roadside Assist

As you can see, changing a flat tyre is not as difficult as you probably thought it was. In summary, you should have your tyres regularly checked for wear and tear by a professional, and if your tyre punctures unexpectedly, you can follow the steps outlined in the article.

However, if you do not trust yourself to change a flat tyre, you can always contact roadside assistance to do the job for you. Moreover, if you think your car is just giving you way too much hassle, why not consider trading it in for a second hand or new one through a car buying or selling company.