Tyre Puncture on the Road? What to Do, Step by Step

A flat tyre always seems to happen at the worst time: on the highway, late at night, or when you are already running late. The good news is that a puncture is one of the easiest roadside problems to fix, if you stay calm and do things in the right order.

This guide walks you through what to do the moment you feel a puncture, how to tell how bad it is, and when to change the spare yourself or call for tyre puncture repair near you.

Signs you have a puncture

You will usually notice one or more of these:

• The car or bike pulls to one side while you drive straight
• The steering feels heavy or wobbly
• A flapping or thumping sound from one wheel
• The tyre pressure warning light comes on
• The bike feels soft and unstable when you turn

If you notice any of these, do not ignore it and keep driving. Running on a flat tyre can ruin the tyre, bend the wheel rim and make the vehicle hard to control.

Step 1: Stop somewhere safe

1. Hold the steering firmly and slow down gently. Do not brake hard.
2. Switch on your hazard lights.
3. Move to the left edge of the road, a petrol pump, or a wide open area. Avoid stopping on a bend, a flyover or a narrow bridge.
4. Put the vehicle in gear (or Park), pull the handbrake, and get everyone out on the side away from traffic.
5. If you have a warning triangle, place it about 30 to 50 steps behind the vehicle.

Your safety matters more than the tyre. If the road is busy or dark and you cannot stop somewhere safe, it is better to wait away from the vehicle and call for help.

Step 2: Check how bad the damage is

Walk around and look at the tyre closely:

• A nail or screw in the tread (the flat part that touches the road): this is the most common puncture and is usually easy to repair.
• A cut or bulge on the sidewall (the side of the tyre): this cannot be safely repaired. The tyre must be replaced.
• The tyre is completely flat and was driven on for a while: it may be damaged from inside even if it looks fine. Get it checked before reusing it.

Do not pull the nail out yourself. Leaving it in place slows down the air leak until it is repaired.

Step 3: Tubeless or tube tyre?

Most new cars and many bikes now use tubeless tyres. They lose air slowly, so you often have time to drive slowly a short distance to the nearest puncture shop. A tubeless puncture is usually fixed in a few minutes with a plug, without removing the wheel.

Older cars, many two-wheelers and cycles use tube tyres. These go flat quickly. The tube has to be taken out and patched or replaced, so it is better not to ride on it at all.

If you are not sure which one you have, look for the word "Tubeless" written on the side of the tyre.

Step 4: Change to the spare (cars)

If you have a spare wheel, a jack and a wheel spanner, you can change it in about 20 minutes:

1. Loosen the wheel nuts slightly while the wheel is still on the ground. Do not remove them yet.
2. Place the jack at the lifting point under the car (check your owner's manual) and raise the car until the flat tyre is off the ground.
3. Remove the nuts and take off the flat wheel.
4. Fit the spare, put the nuts back and tighten them by hand.
5. Lower the car and then tighten the nuts fully in a criss-cross order.
6. Check the spare's air pressure at the next petrol pump.

Many spare wheels are thinner "space saver" wheels. Drive gently, below about 80 km/h, and get your main tyre repaired as soon as you can.

When to call for puncture repair instead

Changing a tyre is not always possible or safe. Call for help when:

• You do not have a spare, or the spare is also flat
• The jack, spanner or locking wheel nut key is missing
• The wheel nuts are too tight to loosen
• You are on a bike, which cannot carry a spare
• It is late at night, raining, or you are on a busy highway
• More than one tyre is damaged

A mechanic who comes to you can plug a tubeless tyre on the spot, patch a tube, or fit your spare properly, so you do not have to push the vehicle anywhere.

Get tyre puncture repair near you

How much does puncture repair cost?

The price depends on the type of tyre and where you are. A simple tubeless plug is usually the cheapest fix. Tube repairs cost a little more because the wheel has to come off, and a new tube costs more again. Help that comes to you on the road includes a visit charge on top of the repair.

With Servmitr, you see the quote before work starts, so there are no surprises.

How to avoid punctures

• Check tyre pressure every two weeks, including the spare. Under-inflated tyres get damaged more easily.
• Look at your tyres for nails, stones, cracks and worn tread when you wash the vehicle.
• Replace tyres when the tread is worn down to the wear indicator marks.
• Avoid driving over potholes, broken glass and construction areas when you can.
• Keep a working jack, spanner and a small tyre inflator in the car.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive with a punctured tyre?

Only a very short distance, slowly, and only if the tyre still has air, which is common with tubeless tyres. Never drive on a fully flat tyre. It can damage the wheel rim and make the vehicle unsafe.

How long does puncture repair take?

A tubeless plug usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. A tube repair or wheel change takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

Can every puncture be repaired?

No. Small holes in the tread can be repaired. Cuts or bulges on the sidewall, or a tyre badly damaged by driving on it flat, need a new tyre.

Do you help with bike punctures too?

Yes. Servmitr sends help for car, bike and scooter punctures, as well as battery jump starts, towing and other breakdowns.

Stuck with a flat tyre right now?

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