What to Do If You Get a Flat Tyre This Winter
If you get a flat tyre, ease off the accelerator, do not brake harshly, and steer gently to a safe, level place to stop. Switch on your hazard lights, put on a hi-vis vest, and only change the wheel yourself if you can do so safely away from traffic. On a motorway, stay behind the barrier and call for help.
Stay calm and stop safely
If a tyre deflates while driving, grip the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow gradually. Avoid braking hard or steering sharply, which can cause a loss of control, especially on a winter road.
Signal and move to a safe, level spot well away from moving traffic. Switch on your hazard lights to warn others, and avoid stopping on a bend or the brow of a hill where you cannot be seen in time.
Make yourself safe
Before doing anything else, make sure you and other road users are safe. Winter darkness makes visibility even more important.
- Put on a hi-vis vest before getting out.
- Place a warning triangle behind the car if it is safe to do so.
- Keep passengers away from the roadside, behind a barrier where possible.
- On a motorway, do not attempt a wheel change: get behind the barrier and call for help.
Know what you are carrying
Before you are stranded is the time to know your options. Many modern cars no longer come with a full-size spare; instead you may have a space-saver, which has speed and distance limits, or just a tyre repair kit with sealant and a compressor.
Check now what your car has and that the tools and locking wheel nut key are present. A repair kit can deal with a small tread puncture but not a sidewall split or a large hole, so it is worth knowing its limits before you rely on it on a cold verge.
Changing the wheel or getting help
If you have a spare, the tools and a safe, firm, level place away from traffic, you can change the wheel yourself. Follow your handbook, and remember space-saver spares have speed and distance limits, usually around 50mph.
If conditions are unsafe, you have no spare, or you are not confident, call a breakdown service. In cold weather, wait somewhere warm and safe rather than beside the car at the roadside, and keep your phone charged so you can stay in contact.
Driving on after a temporary fix
A space-saver or a sealant repair is a get-you-home fix, not a permanent one. Keep to the speed limit marked on a space-saver, avoid long motorway runs on it, and get a proper repair or replacement as soon as you can.
A tyre sealed with a repair kit should also be inspected by a garage, as the sealant is temporary and the puncture may or may not be properly repairable. Bring it to us and we will check whether it can be repaired to standard or needs replacing.
Repair or replace?
Not every flat means a new tyre. A puncture in the central tread area from a nail or screw can often be safely repaired, which is far cheaper than replacement.
Sidewall damage, a run-flat that has been driven on, or a badly damaged tyre will usually need replacing. Bring the wheel to us and we will inspect it honestly and either repair it or fit a new tyre, often the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive on a flat tyre to get somewhere safe?
Only the shortest distance at very low speed to reach a safe stopping place, and never further. Driving on a flat ruins the tyre and can damage the wheel and the car. If you cannot stop safely nearby, slow right down, put on hazards and pull over as soon as you can.
Should I change a flat tyre on the motorway?
No. Never attempt a wheel change on a motorway hard shoulder or live lane, as it is extremely dangerous. Pull as far left as possible, switch on hazards, get all occupants out of the nearside doors and behind the barrier, and call for breakdown assistance from a safe place.
Can a flat tyre be repaired?
Often, yes. A puncture from a nail or screw in the central tread area can usually be repaired to a proper standard, which is much cheaper than a new tyre. Sidewall damage and run-flats driven while deflated generally cannot be repaired. Bring it in and we will assess it honestly.
How far can I drive on a space-saver spare?
A space-saver is a temporary, get-you-home wheel with limits marked on it, usually around 50mph and a restricted distance. Keep to that limit, avoid long motorway runs, and get a proper repair or full-size replacement fitted as soon as you can, as it is not designed for prolonged use.
Is a tyre repair kit as good as a spare?
A repair kit can seal a small puncture in the tread well enough to get you to a garage, but it cannot fix a sidewall split or a large hole, and the sealant is temporary. Always have a kit-repaired tyre inspected afterwards, as it may need a proper repair or replacement.
Book With Norwich Tyres & Auto Service
Need a hand from a real, independent Norwich garage? Call 07933 900901 or pop into Ber Street, NR1 3ES. Same-day tyre fitting is available on most common sizes, with free parking on site.
Hero image: “Santa's sleigh got a flat tyre!” by kewl (source), licensed under CC BY.