Flat Tyre? 3 Things to Do Immediately

A flat tyre can happen at any time — but what you do next makes all the difference. In this quick guide, we share the three essential steps every driver should take as soon as they get a flat tyre. Learn how to stay safe, protect your vehicle from damage, and get back on the road with confidence.

The first and most important thing to know about getting a flat tyre is that this won’t happen without you realising.

Driving on a flat tyre is immediately noticeable for the driver and for passengers in the car. The vehicle suddenly feels very shaky with lots of vibrations, as if you are driving over a very bumpy and pot-holey road.

As soon as you experience this feeling, it’s likely your tyre has blown – leaving only a strip of rubber between the rim of your wheel and the road.

Step one is therefore to pull over and examine the damage. 

Can You Drive on a Flat Tyre?

No - it is illegal to drive on a flat tyre in the UK. It puts you at much higher risk of causing an accident and gives you far less control over your vehicle.

What’s more, from a car ownership point of view, driving on a flat tyre can cause extensive and costly damage to the vehicle.

Changing Your Tyre 

Step two after you’ve pulled over is to change the blown tyre out for a spare, which should be kept in your car for such an occasion.

Ideally you should have the wheel nut and all other tools required to handle this issue yourself, inside the vehicle. However, if not there are emergency breakdown services across the UK that respond to calls and can help with changing a tyre and/or getting yourself to a garage for a full replacement. 

NOTE: If you blow a tyre somewhere with no signal or have no means of calling for help, it is crucial that you do as little driving as possible on a flat tyre. While it is acknowledged that sometimes drivers have no choice but to drive a short distance on a flat tyre, it is best to be prepared and have what you need for a quick change safely stored in the vehicle.

Replace the Spare With a New Tyre

While spare tyres offer a lifeline when your tyre is blown or punctured unexpectedly, the age of some of these tyres means that they are not fitted for prolonged use.

A spare tyre is ideal in an emergency but should be exchanged for a new tyre as soon as possible after the blow out.

So, stage three is to find a tyre supplier (here at Tyres.co.uk, we have options for all vehicles and all budgets) and get your car booked in for a full replacement. 

Difference Between a Flat Tyre and a Punctured Tyre

The terms ‘flat tyre’ and ‘punctured tyre’ are often used interchangeably – however, they are not the same. A flat tyre is one which has blown, losing all the air in the tyre very quickly and with the kind of damage that means it is unable to hold any pumped air.

A punctured tyre is one which has suffered some damage but holds air for a period of time – characterised by a slow release rather than a sudden blow out. A puncture is a sign of weakness and, while it can be patched temporarily, will require replacement at your earliest convenience. 

Maintaining Your Tyres

The more worn your tyres become, the more exposed they are to damage and to the potential for a blow out on the road.

Potholes and nails on the road are some of the most common culprits of a flat tyre – with new tyres significantly better equipped to handle the impact and minimise the damage. Having said that, all tyres can and will suddenly blow if they are exposed to sudden damage. 

Keep your tyres in check and in line with legal and safety regulations, with the help of Tyres.co.uk. The UK’s answer to quality, budget friendly tyres for all vehicles.