What to do When You Get a Flat Tire

Published on

February 7, 2025

If you’ve been driving long enough, there’s a good chance you’ve had to deal with a flat tire. Super inconvenient, but flat tires can be nothing more than minor hiccups if you know what to do.

Let’s talk about some best practices if you get a flat tire, and remember, your local GreatWater-affiliated shop is always here to help you with all things tires so you can get back on the road quickly and safely.

How to Tell if You Have a Flat Tire

This is the easy part! Flat tires are fairly easy to spot - just see if one tire is noticeably less inflated than the others. You're also likely to experience vibrations, your vehicle pulling to one side, unusual sounds, or control issues if you drive with a low or flat tire. Not to mention you’ll typically get hit with a dashboard alert if one of your tires is significantly low.

Pulling Over Safely: What You Need to Know

If you get a severely low or flat tire while you're driving, pull over to a safe spot as quickly as you can. If you're on the highway, try to pull over to the shoulder. If you're in the city, try to find a gas station or business to turn into. Safety is top priority when pulling over with a flat,. But if you can find a flat, level surface to park and assess the situation, it will make it easier for you if you need to change your tire.

Temporary Fixes vs. Permanent Repairs

If you get a flat tire, sometimes a temporary repair will do until you can have the tire replaced or repaired. Some things you can do to ensure your vehicle remains drivable until you can get it to a shop include:

Change your tire for a spare: Not all vehicles today have spare tires. If your vehicle does come with a spare, change the flat out to your spare so your vehicle remains drivable.
Fill it up: If it's a slow leak, you may be able to fill your damaged tire with air - even if it's just enough to get you safely to a repair shop.
Use a sealant kit: If you can see where the issue is, you may be able to use a sealant kit to temporarily stop any leak.

Tips to Avoid Flat Tires in the Future

‍You drive long enough and a flat tire is likely inevitable. However, there are certain things you can do to reduce your risk:

Monitor your tire pressure regularly and fill when necessary to reduce your risk of a blowout.
Don't overload your vehicle beyond the manufacturer's recommended weight limit.
Have your tires rotated and wheels aligned regularly.
Don't drive on tires more than a decade old, even if the tread is still good. Tire rubber wears down over time and can lead to a higher likelihood of failure.