We’ve all been there; you’re driving down the road minding your own business, when your tyre suddenly blows out or is flattened by an unexpected puncture.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, faulty brakes and tyre punctures (or even worn tyres) are the biggest contributing factors to UK road accidents every year, with this partially reflecting a lack of basic car maintenance skills across the length-and-breadth of the country.
In this post, we’ll explain what to do if you experience a flat tyre while driving, from the safety considerations to how you can change the defective tyre.
Getting Started – What to Do Initially
Let’s start with the basics; as if you do experience a flat or blown-out tyre while on the road, the first thing to remember is to keep calm and maintain control of the vehicle as best as possible.
However, you shouldn’t continue to drive for any longer than necessary in this instance, as you look to prevent spinning out of control and find the nearest safe place in which to bring the vehicle to a halt.
The reason for this is simple; as it initially prevents you from experiencing a more serious accident or colliding with other vehicles, while it may damage your wheels more extensively and increase the cost of potential repairs.
Similarly, driving slowly with a puncture can increase the risk of a blow-out, so this should be absolutely avoided at all costs!
What Equipment Should You Keep in the Car?
Prior to travelling, you’ll also need a selection of essential items to keep in your car in the event of a puncture or tyre issue.
This should include a tyre repair kit, which should include a bottle of sealant (in the event of minor punctures) and a compressor, while it may also feature a tyre pressure gauge to test replacement tyres and ensure they’re inflated to the necessary level.
Of course, you’ll also need a spare in the boot of your car, whether you’re seeking to replace Bridgestone tyres or similarly branded products.
Now for the Nitty-Gritty – Changing Your Tyre
Once you’ve pulled over and evacuated your vehicle safely, the next step is to actually start changing your tyre.
We’d recommend that you refer to your vehicle’s manual before getting started, as this will come in handy when it comes to checking the requisite equipment and following the process as safely and efficiently as possible.
You’ll need to loosen the wheel nuts before removing the defective tyre, and then utilise a jack to elevate the car and start the removal process. The jack should be placed as close to the wheel as possible, and you can then start to wind the handle until the wheel is clear.
Feel free to stabilise the jack if you’re changing your tyre in challenging or uneven terrain, and once again, the vehicle manual can come in handy when following the process.
