Car tyres experience a lot of punishment day after day. It doesn't matter if you're driving petrol, diesel, or all-electric vehicle; all car tyres spin the same. Not only do they experience loads of friction and heat, but they also roll over anything on the road that may be in their path.
Most of the time, that's not a problem. Sure, tiny pebbles might get stuck in the treads of your tyres, but that's mostly harmless. The problem comes when your tyre rolls over something sharp enough to puncture the rubber and let all the air out.
Some punctures are slow-acting, so you'll only notice a flat tyre later on. In those cases, all you'll need to do is switch out to a spare tyre for the time being until you can buy new tyres.
But when a puncture happens as you're driving down the highway that can be quite scary and dangerous.
In this article, we're going to focus on the latter. Getting a punctured tyre while you're driving can be something you’re not prepared for, which is why you'll want to know what to do about it before it ever happens.
How Do You Handle a Tyre Puncture While Driving?
Suppose you experience a punctured tyre while driving down a road. Your first instinct may be to slam on the brakes, but that's exactly what you SHOULDN'T do! You could end up throwing the car off-balance and losing control of the vehicle entirely.
There's plenty of time to figure out how to fix a punctured tyre later. For now, though, you need to focus on keeping your car driving straight and then getting yourself to safety.
Ideally, here's how you should react to getting a punctured tyre while driving.
Focus on Going Straight
When one tyre punctures all of a sudden, you'll find that your car will try to swerve in the direction of that compromised tyre. That can be quite dangerous, which is why you should focus on keeping your vehicle to continue straight in your lane.
Why is this so crucial? Because this helps you avoid colliding with other cars when you experience a puncture in the middle of the road.
Avoid Overcorrecting
Right at the moment when you get a punctured tyre and feel the car start to pull in one direction, your first instinct may be to turn the wheel in the opposite direction. That's the right thing to do, to an extent. Some people may panic and turn too much in the other direction, known as 'overcorrecting'.
Remember: your focus should be on keeping your car going straight. So, you should only turn your wheel as much as is necessary to achieve that goal.
Gradually Slow Down
As mentioned earlier, you should never slam on your brakes when you get a punctured tyre while driving. Instead, you should focus on keeping your car going straight in terms of direction.
However, in terms of speed, you should only slow down gradually. That means taking your foot off the gas pedal and letting your car slow down naturally.
Coast to a Stop and Pull Over
When your car coasts to a stop, you should next focus on pulling over on the side of the road safely. Your top priority is to get to safety before even thinking about how you can put on a spare tyre.
How Long Can I Drive a Punctured Tyre?
When you have a punctured tyre, you can only drive for a few hundred yards at best. Even then, it wouldn't be wise to push the limits of your flat tyre.
Remember: the only thing separating your heavy, expensive rims and the road underneath is that punctured tyre. That cushioning provided by the tyre will not last long, so if you keep driving, you'll end up with your rims scraping against the ground.
That's why it's crucial that you pull over safely and put on your spare tyre. That tyre isn't as good as your regular ones, but it'll last long enough to get you to a workshop to either fix your punctured tyre or buy a new one.
Can I Fix a Punctured Tyre, or Do I Need a New One?
Yes, you can fix a punctured tyre instead of buying a new one. However, that will depend on the extent of the damage, i.e. how bad the puncture is in the first place.
Here's how to know if you can fix it or need to replace it.
You can fix a punctured tyre if:
- The cause of a puncture is small, like a nail.
- The puncture hole or cut on the tyre tread is smaller than 6mm.
Suppose your punctured tyre is fixable. If that's the case, then you should get a qualified mechanic to do it for you. Sure, there are plenty of DIY kits for tyre repairs, but when it comes to something as crucial to your vehicle's safety as the tyres, it's always best to err on the side of caution and let a professional sort it out for you.
Having said that, you'll need to replace your tyre entirely if:
- The puncture or tear is larger than 6mm on the treads of the tyre.
- The puncture affected any of the tyre's sidewalls.
- If the tyre is already worn out, to begin with.
In those cases, your punctured tyre should not be repaired. At that point, it'll be a much better investment to buy new tyres for your vehicle.
Can You Reuse a Spare Tyre?
Yes, you can reuse a spare tyre. Once you've fixed your punctured tyre or decided to buy new ones, you should make sure that your spare tyre is in good condition before putting it back in your car.
Treat it like any other tyre and fill it up with enough air while also inspecting the treads. You'll need that spare tyre to be in good condition for if (or rather 'when') you ever find yourself stuck with a punctured tyre again.
Keeping Your Car in Shape
To learn more about taking care of your car, check our blog over at Carpart.com.au. We update it daily to give you the latest news, tips, and car owner guides. It's also the best place to locate new and used car parts because you can request any auto part you need. Just fill out a form and press send, and we'll connect you to our registered sellers and certified wreckers right away. Get a quote now!
By Ray Hasbollah