One of the most common pieces of advice that you’d usually hear when you have a flat is to never drive on one. It’s dangerous and could get your car more damaged. However, there comes a time when you’d really have to drive even with a flat.
Let’s say you’re in the middle of the highway when you felt your tires start to deflate. You could also be in a curve or a dark and dangerous road where you aren’t easily visible.
In such cases, you could opt to drive for a while to get yourself to safety. But how far can you drive with a flat tire? Additionally, how do you drive with a flat tire? We’ll answer all those questions below.
How Far Can You Drive With A Flat Tire
How far you can drive with a flat tire will depend on how much pressure is left on your tire when you discover that you have a flat. In some cases, a tire blowout can also happen. That would also decrease the distance that you could travel. Usually, you could drive for about a mile until your rims start to get damaged. Let us further prevent that by following the guideline below.
How To Drive On A Flat Tire
Drive At Slow Speeds
You might be tempted to drive fast in this situation to get to safety fast. However, that would just be counterproductive. It is best to drive slowly because that decreases the damage your car could receive. Additionally, driving slowly gives you better control of your vehicle. High-speed driving with a flat could cause you to break the core of the wheels because there isn’t a tire that’s protecting it.
A Flat Road Is Best
When driving on a flat tire, the best scenario would be to drive over a flat road that’s free of potholes. Broken roads increase the risk of your tires getting more damaged, especially your car rim since the tires can’t efficiently protect them.
Drive Straight
When looking for a safe place to put your car while you change your flat tire or call for help, it is best to drive on a straight road. Avoid going through roads with many turns. Sharp turns can put pressure on the car rim especially with a flat tire.
Stop Somewhere Safe
If you find a chance to pull in, just take it. Just make sure you stop your car in a place that’s away from the main road. When you pull over, make sure to use your handbrake and emergency signal to make yourself more visible.
Drive The Shortest Distance Possible
Avoid driving for far too long. Although you can still drive your car even with a flat, that doesn’t mean you should push it. There are still a lot of dangers to driving a car with a flat that’s why many people advise against it. Even if you’d be needing roadside assistance to get to the nearest auto shop, it would be better than to push your car to its limits.
How To Avoid Driving On A Flat
Driving on a flat is something that you shouldn’t get accustomed to doing. You should avoid doing it at all costs. To do that, here are a few things you should remember.
Purchase Quality Tires
Tires that are of better quality are less likely to have a flat especially when you’ve just used them for a short time. Check the tire treads and make sure they are thick. These are more resistant to punctures and impacts.
Even if higher quality tires are more expensive, you’d still get better value over them. They help prevent frequent tire repair and replacement. Also remember that although you can drive on a flat, some tires may not be as good to drive with a flat as with others. It will also depend on the quality of the tires.
Check Your Tires Before Driving
A visual check can save you a lot of time and stress. It is good practice to always check your car tires whenever you go for a drive. That would help you catch a possible flat tire even before it happens. Tire pressure should also be regularly checked.
Avoid Broken Or Rough Roads
The more you drive on broken roads, the more wear and tear your car tires get. That makes them more prone to having a flat. If you drive on such roads frequently, make sure that you also properly maintain your tires. This would help you prevent the chances of having to drive with a flat tire.
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