A punctured tyre can happen suddenly or develop slowly over time — but knowing how to spot the warning signs can help you stay safe and avoid further damage. From steering changes and dashboard warnings to visible signs of deflation, this guide explains how to identify a puncture, what to do when it happens, and how to maintain your tyres to reduce the risk in the future.
Suffering a puncture while driving is one of the most common issues that plagues drivers, causing a sudden loss of control and impacting the speed of the vehicle almost instantly.
A puncture means that at least one tyre on the vehicle suddenly loses a large amount of its air, impacting its ability to turn and be handled efficiently. For those behind the steering wheel, the result is a car that may suddenly feel like it wants to swerve to one side, with the response to steering becoming sluggish.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about getting a puncture is the unpredictability. Drivers cannot control how and when a tyre will suffer a puncture – rather, they must simply respond quickly and pull over to a safe stopping place as soon as possible.
In this article, we’re sharing not only the signs that a tyre has become punctured, but also the signs of a weakening tyre – as well as tips on how to keep tyres in optimum condition to avoid damage.
First though, what are some common causes of a puncture?
Common Causes of a Punctured Tyre
Older tyres and those with less tread depth are more susceptible to punctures and blowouts, meaning first and foremost that punctures are more likely to occur on older vehicles.
Having said that, some of the main issues that hit UK drivers are potholes – and they can cause a puncture to even the newest and most well looked after tyre.
Other common causes include obstacles on the road, which either become embedded in the tyre and lead to irreparable damage, or which cause a significant knock that damages the sidewall. You can even find that overinflated tyres heighten the risk of a puncture by putting excess pressure on the rubber – highlighting the importance of both tyre checks and good all-round maintenance.
NOTE: Not all punctures affect the tread of the tyre – some can impact the sidewall. The distinction between these is important, as damaged tread can sometimes be repaired while a damaged sidewall cannot be fixed and must be replaced.
Signs of a Punctured Tyre
Now for the big question: how to know when a tyre has suffered a puncture.
If you are driving at the time, you will know a standard tyre has punctured by a change in vibration and in the handling, you have on the steering wheel. The vehicle will want to pull towards the side of the punctured tyre, and you will likely hear a lot of noise from outside the vehicle.
If you are driving on run-flat tyres instead of standard ones, the TPMS light should become illuminated on the dashboard, letting you know to limit your speed and get your vehicle to a garage within the next 50 miles. This warning light is important because much of the feeling from a puncture is not felt when driving on run-flat tyres.
If your vehicle is static, or you have suffered a slow puncture which does not become immediately obvious when driving, the signs of your puncture are likely to be more visual. If the rubber seems to have visually deflated and pooled on the road surface, you likely have a puncture.
What to Do When Your Tyre Blows on the Road
The first thing to do when you get a puncture when driving is to put your hazard lights on and safely pull over for a thorough inspection. You can either remove and replace the tyre with a spare, attempt to patch up the tyre using a repair kit, or call for roadside assistance.
Whether a tyre can be repaired or not will depend on the location and extent of the damage – something a professional will be able to advise on. Damage to the sidewall, or a hole that’s larger than 6mm on the tread surface, renders a tyre irreparable and in need of replacement.
