Helpful Guide to Tyre Punctures

It’s one of those moments that many people don’t really give much thought to until it actually happens - you have a flat tyre.

If you got a punctured tyre, would you know what to do?

If you’ve already had the misfortune of a punctured tyre and are in need of a repair:

Is it Okay to Drive on a Flat Tyre?

The brief answer to this question is simply “no”. If you are aware that a tyre on your vehicle is punctured, you should not ignore the issue by continuing to drive on the damaged tyre.

Driving on a flat tyre can result in decreased vehicle handling capabilities and cause significant damage to various vehicle components, including the:

• Wheel
• Alignment
• Brakes
• Suspension
• Steering system

If you experience a flat tyre, a blow out, or you’ve noticed that the TPMS light has lit up on your vehicle’s dashboard you will need to pull your vehicle over onto the side of the road, in a safe area.

While you shouldn’t knowingly drive on a punctured tyre for great distances or at high speeds, it is okay to travel a very short distance at a decreased speed to ensure that you are able to pull over in a safe place.

The one exception to driving on a flat tyre is if your vehicle is fitted with run flat tyres, which are designed to maintain a reasonable level of handling, performance and durability even when you have experienced a puncture.

Always remember that when you’ve pulled your vehicle over to the side of the road with a flat tyre that if you need to get out of the car, never turn your back to oncoming traffic, and always have your hazard lights on.

How do you Prevent a Flat Tyre?

Unfortunately, tyre punctures are unavoidable, though there are some things that you can do to potentially minimise the risk of a flat tyre, including:

• Avoiding rubbing against the curb when parking your vehicle
• Maintaining the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressures
• To the best of your ability, avoiding debris and potholes on the road
• Regularly inspect your tyres, for example when filling up at the petrol station, for visual signs of damage such as objects stuck in the tread or sidewall

How do You Maintain Recommended Tyre Pressures?

Vehicle manufacturer’s will typically recommend that you check your tyre pressures once a month. If you have a spare tyre, remember to also check its pressure so that it remains well maintained and ready for use, should it be needed.

For tyre pressure information specific to your vehicle, you can refer to the owner’s manual or the vehicle placard. You should read the pressures when your tyres are cold (tyres are cold when the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or you’ve travelled at a moderate speed for less than 1.5km).

When required, you can adjust pressures using an air compressor. If you are adjusting the pressure of any of your tyres, always be sure to check the pressures again afterwards to ensure accuracy. If you have overinflated a tyre you can let some air back out until the correct pressure is achieved.

Maintaining correct inflation pressures can assist in prolonging tyre life, and enhances their on-road safety and performance.

Why are Regular Inspections and Tyre Rotations Important?

You should make it a habit to regularly complete a visual inspection of your tyres, for example, each time you wash your car, or when you fill up at the petrol station. This can help you to identify any possible tyre damage that may pose as a safety concern, including cracks, bulges, gouges and punctures.

When tyre damage goes unnoticed, it may cause a slow leak, or even a blowout, which can be incredibly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Identifying tyre damage early on means that you can have the tyre assessed by a professional and resolve the issue before it becomes a potentially more dangerous and costly issue later on.

Making sure that you stick to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tyre rotation schedule is also of importance. It can enhance tyre safety by promoting even tyre wear and maximising tyre life. This is achieved by enabling the tyres to operate in a number of different wheel positions.

Manufacturer’s will typically recommend a tyre rotation every 10,000 kilometres or every 6 months, whichever comes first.

Do You Know Your Tyre’s Load Rating?

Were you aware that your tyres have a maximum load that they can safely carry whilst operating at maximum speed? If you surpass the load rating of your tyres, you increase your risk of accidents, including tyre blowouts, that are associated with an overloaded tyre.

To identify the load rating of your tyres look for the two or three-digit number ranging from 0 to 279 on the vehicle placard, or the sidewall of the tyre. This number tells you the heaviest load that the tyre can withstand , whilst operating at maximum speed. It’s important to note that the stated load rating applies strictly to a correctly inflated tyre.

Lookout for Road Hazards!

It’s always important to drive to the conditions and to maintain an awareness of possible hazards on the road ahead. For one thing, it can assist in preventing unexpected tyre punctures. When it is safe to do so, avoid potholes and be mindful of pieces of glass and other sharp objects that may either puncture your tyre or cause cuts or bulges that can lead to a flat tyre later on if left unnoticed or ignored.

If you have a punctured tyre and are looking for a possible repair or replacement, contact us. Located at 940-946 Victoria Rd, we service those in West Ryde and the surrounding areas, including Ryde, Eastwood and Gladesville.