Can you drive on a flat tyre?

If there's one driving predicament we all hope to avoid, it's getting a flat on the motorway and having to change your tyre as other road users fly by. Some decide to continue driving after their tyre pops, but should you drive on a flat tyre and, if so, how far can you drive? Read on to find out.

How long can you drive on a flat tyre?

Continuing to drive with a flat tyre is never a good idea (unless you have run flat tyres!) - tyres are not only necessary for a smooth car ride, but they provide cushioning for your car's wheels maintaining safe and accurate braking and steering. When driving on a flat tyre, you drive without this protection, consequently risking damage to your wheels and putting yourself and passengers at risk. That's why we recommend never driving on a flat tyre and instead pulling over to change the tyre as quickly as possible.

Sometimes, however, a flat tyre isn't obvious - you may have a slow puncture meaning the tyre's air pressure is released slowly over time. In these cases, you may be driving around with a puncture for weeks without even knowing. Again, this is not recommended - if you realise your tyre has a puncture, it's recommended to get it replaced or repaired as soon as possible.

What if you have run flat tyres?

Drivers with run flat tyres fitted do not need to pull over as soon as they experience a flat tyre. Run flat tyres have reinforced sidewalls meaning when they are punctured, the sidewall is preserved and the tyres still function. However, they typically allow for a maximum speed of 50mph for a maximum of 50 miles.

Run flat tyres cannot be repaired. Their reinforced sidewalls mean that any damage to the structure of the tyre is hard to identify. Find out more about run flat tyres and their capabilities here.

What should you do when you get a flat tyre?

There's no doubt that a flat tyre is very stressful, and can also be quite unnerving. Follow these steps to get yourself back on the road as soon as possible:

• Remain calm and pull over - if your tyre has burst, you might lose control of your car. Move your vehicle to a safe area where you can assess the damage.
• Repair or replace? - check whether your car needs a replacement tyre or the current one can be repaired. If you have run flat tyres, you can skip this step as all punctured run flat tyres must be replaced. You should be able to tell whether your car needs replacing from where the puncture is - if the puncture is in the sidewall, you will need to replace your tyre.
• Change to the spare tyre - whether you choose to repair or replace, it is recommended that you switch to your spare tyre to get from the breakdown site to your local Tyre Group centre. If you do not have a spare tyre, you may need to call for roadside assistance.
• Find your nearest tyre centre - once you have changed your tyre, find your closest Tyre Group fitter and book an appointment for a tyre replacement or repair.

Get in contact with your nearest Tyre Group centre now or search for your new tyres to buy online and one of our helpful technicians will fit it for you.