A punctured wheel is not a problem if you have a spare tire and a set of wrenches. Changing it is a matter of 30-40 minutes. But what if you don’t have a spare tire nor tools? Or your knowledge is not enough for such repair? Is it possible to drive to the nearest mechanic shop or house on a flat tire? How far can you drive on a flat tire? We’re here to answer all questions.
How To Repair A Flat Tire
Tire damage is not always so critical that it requires urgent repair. If you just noticed a nail or any sharp object, but the wheel holds the pressure and does not release it, then do not try to pull it out. You can go not only to the nearest mechanic shop, but you can also drive for weeks (although highly not recommended). The main thing to keep in mind is to make sure the nail does not fly out on the bump in the most inappropriate moment.
If there are small punctures and cuts through which the air is barely oozing, you can seal it without removing the tires. For this purpose, buy a tire sealant. It is pumped through the valve into the wheel. And then the clever mechanism of chemistry inflates the tire and the coats the inside of the tire, plugging leaks or punctures.
Related: Sidewall Tire Damage. Can You Drive? Is It Repairable?
How To Repair a Flat Tire If You Don’t Have Tools
If you dont have tools you can try to get to the workshop on a flat tire. In some cases, this risk is justified. If the air does not come out too fast, you will have time to get there. As a last resort, be patient and pump up the damaged wheel every kilometer or two.
Before you move, pump the wheel to its maximum. This way, you can drive longer without stopping. If you feel the characteristic behavior of a flat tire, repeat the manipulations.
But remember, its almost always better to call a tow truck, unless your trying so save money
What Pressure Should Your Tires Be
Normal tire pressure in a modern car is in the range from 32 to 35~ psi, it also depends on the car and the wheel radius. Each car model has its own nominal tire pressure in winter and summer. It is written on a sticker, which is attached to the inner side of the door on the driver’s side, if there’s no sticker there, check the owner’s manual.
How far can you drive on a flat tire?
How far you can drive on a flat tire depends on the degree of rubber damage. If the tire still holds the air, it is quite possible to get to the nearest mechanic shop. When you don’t have the necessary materials to repair a fully deflated tire, all that remains is to call a tow truck. Riding on a flat tire is a reckless decision that threatens the safety of you and the people around you. You should not ignore the problem of a deflated tire. Most often, a tire has enough resources to drive to the nearest car service center for a short time. It is not recommended to postpone the to the tire fitting so as not to make the critical situation worse.
The tire is a complex structure, not a homogenous piece of rubber. A tire consists of several layers that are responsible for a particular characteristic. The technology and material features of each element are different and have their own nuances. The tread pattern is not applied to the tire for visual effect. A flat tire immediately loses its functionality, and its characteristics decrease.
If you decide to drive on a flat tire your going to face the following problems:
- The car starts to move a little to the side due to the imbalance
- When you increase the speed it becomes harder to drive
- If you continue driving on a flat tire, the car begins to consume more fuel
- A heavily deflated tire will constantly be deformed and hitting the side, its the weaker side that is not designed for such a load, as a result of which rubber burst may occur.
- The cord loses the ability to evenly distribute the load.
- In a fully deflated wheel, the pressure on the rim increases dramatically, and the rubber may rupture completely
- If you are driving on a flat tire, the tire may fall off, and this may cause a deformation of the rim
- The car’s braking system starts to work worse, which is especially dangerous when you need to brake sharply
- It will not be possible to drive and maneuver sharply on a flat tire as the car will skid on corners
- The rubber begins to overheat, which causes even faster failure and can no longer be repaired
- Riding on a flat tire is dangerous due to the possibility of a second puncture and complete failure of the wheel
- Riding on a flat tire is to damage the tire again and reduce its service life
If your tire is completely flat
When there is almost no air layer between the ground and the disc, you can’t go: the rubber will just jam and the wheel can be sent to the dump after such a ride.