What to Do If You Have a Flat Tyre While Driving

So, you're planning to go on a trip, you hit the road, with the wind in your hair, and a few kilometres in, you start hearing a strange noise. It’s the dreaded flat tyre!

What’s your first reaction when you realise it’s a flat tyre?

1. Hit the brakes in a panic.

2. Try to drag your car to the nearest service centre.

3. Slow down and look for a safe spot.

4. Pull over immediately, no matter where you are.

If your answer is C, you’re thinking in the right direction already! Whether you’re a seasoned driver or a newbie in the Safer Drivers Course, when facing a flat tyre, staying calm and taking logical actions is essential. Here’s what you should do when you find yourself with a flat tyre while driving:

What Should You Do First?

According to a roadside assistance survey in 2024, almost 33% of the callouts were due to flat tyres. Indeed, calling for assistance is the first thing that pops into mind when you're facing a flat tyre. But before calling, take these steps to ensure you don’t disrupt the traffic or hurt yourself and others while waiting for assistance.

Do These First:

1. Stay Calm and Maintain Control:

Panicking or getting frustrated is not going to help you in any way. So, the first thing you should do is calm down. While the car may start giving sudden jerks due to the flat tyre, you must grip the steering wheel firmly and keep your car steady. Avoid making any sudden movements with your steering wheel or pedals.

2. Slow Down Gradually:

Once you’ve calmed down, the next step is to stop, obviously! But if you hit the brakes suddenly, you might end up losing control and further damaging the tyre or wheel rim. Instead, slow down gradually and naturally by easing off the accelerator and braking gently when needed.

3. Signal and Move to Safety:

Letting others know that you’re pulling over is also very important. So, while you’re slowly coming to a stop, you can signal your intention to stop. You can use your hazard lights here to signal you’re dealing with something and then carefully pull over. Ensure you pull over to a wide shoulder or an emergency stopping bay that is safe and away from the traffic. Don’t stop or pull over at a space where the oncoming traffic cannot see you, like a bend or a blind spot.

4. Park Safely:

When you have a safe spot in mind, the next thing to do is pull over. But make sure you’re safe. You should engage the parking brake steadily before turning off the engine. Also, make sure the approaching traffic can see you by parking in a visible spot and keeping your hazard lights on, especially in the dark or low-light conditions.

Deciding the Next Course of Action

Now that you’re off the road and safely pulled over in a visible spot, what should you do next? You guessed it right! The next logical step is to take a breather, get down, and assess the situation and your surroundings. After you know what’s the extent of the damage, you can decide whether to handle it yourself or ask for assistance.

Do These After the First Response:

1.Assess the Situation:

If you’ve had experience with a flat tyre before, you would know that doing anything before properly assessing the situation can further damage your tyre. Instead of acting smart and getting stranded, check if the puncture is small or too big for you to handle on your own. Also, see if the ground is level with the tyre? However, before getting down, you might want to ensure that you’re safe from the passing traffic, but also in an easily visible spot.

2.Use a Spare Tyre or Call for Assistance:

This is where you make a call (not to the roadside assistance - or maybe yes?). The big question now is, how good are you with a tyre? A recent Finder survey revealed that almost 31% of Australians are incapable of changing a flat tyre. Are you in that group, or do you think you can handle a tyre change yourself?

• DIY Tyre Change:

If you do know how to change a tyre and have the necessary tools in your vehicle, go ahead and try your luck! You’ll need your spare tyre (this one should be properly aired up!), a jack, and a wheel brace. As for instructions, you can refer to the car’s manual to get more information, like the specific jacking points, etc.

• Calling for Reinforcements:

So, you don’t know how to change a tyre? No worries! Roadside assistance, like NRMA, RAC, or your insurance provider, can help you out if you request aid. They will ask you about your exact location, your car’s details, or its current condition. And then you wait for them to come pick you up.

3.Ensure You’re Safe While Waiting:

Safety should always be your first concern. Whether you decide to change the tyre yourself or wait for help to come, staying safe and away from traffic is essential. If you’re not at an ideal location, move to a safer distance if possible. If you have a warning triangle, place it at a safe distance behind your vehicle to warn approaching drivers.

What to Do After The Tyre Change?

You’ve changed your tyre or got roadside assistance to handle the issue, but what next? Now, you’ve got to try to avoid this issue again as much as possible. Let’s see how you can go about it:

Some Key Points to Remember:

• Drive Cautiously: Emergency spare tyres are for temporary use only. They are not made of the same quality or standard as the regular tyres and can be driven for a minimum distance only (100-150 km). These tyres also cannot handle high speeds and hence should be driven carefully.

• Get Them Fixed or Replaced: Now that you know why using a spare tyre for a long time is unwise, the best thing to do is get them replaced as soon as possible.

• Prevention is Key: Pay more attention to proper tyre maintenance by ensuring they are serviced regularly. Avoid driving with tyres that have low air pressure or any other issue. Also, keep a tyre repair kit and spare tyres always in your car. You never know when they might come in handy!

Conclusion

Flat tyres can happen to everyone. So, if you’re thinking it’s some big problem you can’t handle, drop that thought right now! With proper preparation, a practical approach, and a calm mind, you can easily handle a flat tyre. Just use the tips we’ve shared here and make sure to check your car and tyres regularly. At Onroad Driving School, we make sure that all our students have the skills and confidence when they sit behind the wheel. We believe in preparing you for any challenge on the road, flat tyres included! Enrol today to explore our Safer Drivers Course and other programs!

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