Flat Spots on Tyres: Why They Happen & How to Fix Them

With tyres being the only part of your vehicle that makes constant contact with the ground or road surface, it’s little wonder that these fitments are the most susceptible to damage. And while much of the potential for damage occurs when driving, there are some issues that can strike when your vehicle is static and not moving.

Flat spots are exactly as they sound – points on a tyre where the rubber structure has lost its round shape and has become flattened. And while often a temporary concern with a relatively easy fix, knowing the causes of flat spots and how to fix them can help drivers to prevent ongoing concerns.

Let’s start with the signs and symptoms of flat spots, so you know what you’re looking for.

How Do I Know if My Tyre Has Flat Spots?

A flat spot exhibits visible symptoms, while also affecting the driving experience.

If your tyre has a flat spot, you will likely experience vibrations through the steering wheel and will find that the ride is a lot bumpier than normal. This is because the smooth rotation of the wheel gets stuck with every turn on the flat spot.

Visually, a flat spot appears much flatter than the rest of the tyre and may also look to have a lower tread depth measurement.

Common Causes of Flat Spots

Suffice to say, if your tyre has a flat spot, you’ll know about it. But what causes this issue to arise – and how damaging is it to tyres?

The most common cause of a flat spot on a tyre is the vehicle being parked or static for a prolonged period of time. This causes the tyre to literally flatten under the weight of the vehicle, with the cooling of the rubber meaning that the tyre gets stuck in this flattened position. This is, however, a temporary issue that can usually be rectified with a short drive to heat the rubber back up and force it back into its regular position.

Another common cause of a flat spot on your tyre is skidding, putting excessive pressure on the rubber at a certain point when braking harshly and suddenly stopping the rotation of the wheel. This can cause more damage to the tyre, depending on the severity of the flat spot.

What to Do if Your Tyre Has a Flat Spot

If you notice a flat spot when you return to your vehicle, the first thing to do is to take a short drive and see if infusing heat back into the tyre causes it to return to its regular shape.

If driving on the tyre doesn’t help to alleviate the flat spot, you can use a jack to elevate the vehicle and reduce the weight that’s being placed on the tyre – giving it space to reset.

If neither of these things work, you may need to replace the tyre with a new one – taking care to follow the below advice on preventing future flat spots. This is typically the case if the flat spots have become permanent, or if the damage has been caused by sharp braking instead of prolonged periods of standing.

How to Prevent Future Flat Spots

Flat spots occur when a tyre is put under excess pressure with no relief for an extended period of time. The way to prevent this is to rotate the tyres regularly – and if you do have to leave the vehicle for a longer period, to add a little extra pressure to the tyres, so they do not run the risk of being underinflated.

You should also take steps to ensure that the tyre tread on all four tyres of your car is evenly distributed, by changing the position of tyres according to regulatory guidance. Doing this creates an even rate of wear across all tyres, reducing the risk of flat spots and of excessive wear and damage to one or more particular tyres.

Not all flat spots are permanent, so try driving on them and elevating the vehicle to reduce pressure on the tyres, before panicking and buying new ones. It could save you a fortune!