ADVICE: you should do, and not do, in the event of a flat tire

A flat tire never occurs at the right time, no doubt about it. Some have managed to escape the bad luck for several years while others have been forced to have to replace their tire in rain, or in the snow, or a night…

Unfortunately, when you feel that your vehicle is suddenly more difficult to control, that its handling seems compromised and that the steering wheel suddenly vibrates under your hands, you have to resign yourself to stop on the side of the road in order to see the problem. And if you see that there is indeed a flat tire, it is time to get everything out of the trunk in order to access the jack.

“It’s never good to ride on a flat tire. Sometimes it may just be a simple air leak that we can temporarily repair with a specialized sealer, but otherwise we should avoid driving with our flat tire, find a safe place to stop, and replace the wheel … or call roadside assistance,” says a technician at Fifth Avenue Auto Haus.

Driving with a flat tire not only puts your safety at risk, but it can also cause other problems, such as wheel damage and even suspension damage. Your tire is the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, that’s important to remember. If it is flat, then suddenly the wheel of your vehicle comes in contact with the road, and the results, you can imagine, are not positive.

So the first step is to find a safe place to park. Then make sure the vehicle is on a flat surface. Then brace the wheels that do not need to be replaced, and partially loosen the bolts of the wheel that needs to be replaced. Place the jack at the appropriate lifting point and lift the vehicle. Remove the bolts and the wheel, and install the other wheel. Tighten the bolts and you can go back on the road.

Finally, when you need to replace the tire, it is always wise to make sure that the other tires are still in good condition to avoid running with three worn tires and a brand new one.