Across the UK, we depend on our vehicles almost daily, allowing us to travel from A to B with ease no matter the weather. However, when a fault occurs, you may find that you are left unaware of the steps you can take. When it comes to your tyres, many cars will have a spare tyre or puncture repair kit in the rear of their vehicle. However, if you cannot locate either of these in your car, you may be left wondering if you are able to continue driving whilst your tyre is losing pressure. Allow us to answer that question for you…
Can you drive with a flat tyre?
To get to the point – no. The Highway Code states that, to be roadworthy, the tyres on your vehicle must be inflated to the correct pressure, meaning that a flat tyre does not abide with the regulations for road safety.
You may think that, if the car continues to move, it is possible to drive to complete your journey. However, you could risk causing costly damage to both the rim of your wheel and the suspension of your vehicle – especially if the rubber layer of your tyre is wearing thin between the road and the wheel itself.
If you do find yourself in a serious situation, such as having a flat phone battery and lacking both a repair kit and spare tyre, you may be left with no other option other than to continue to drive on. If this is the case, be sure to keep the distance as short as possible and drive in a slow and safe manner until you come to a location which can provide support, such as a petrol station.
Can you drive with a puncture
Despite common confusion among the public, a puncture is not the same as a flat tyre. In most cases a puncture will be safer to drive on. A flat tyre will have lost most or all of its air, whilst a puncture will be slow releasing.
With a slow puncture, you could find that it is possible to reinflate the tyre with enough air to get you to your destination, so long as you travel slowly and carefully. At this stage, you should arrange for a tyre repair or replacement. Continuing to drive on a puncture is not practical and could result in a full blowout due to the increased stress placed on the tyre.
A puncture could be caused by weakness in the structure of your tyre, or by being pierced by a sharp object on the road such as a nail. Occasionally, you may find that items such as these are still wedged into your tyre, but this is where they are best off. Do not attempt to remove it as this could increase the size of the puncture or result in a blowout. Instead, you should get booked in with your local mechanic for a tyre repair or replacement.
At RKH Service and Repair, we provide reliable repairs and replacement for tyres in any condition. To discuss how we could help your vehicle, get in touch. Give us a call on 01233 877797 or send us an email at admin@rkhserviceandrepair.co.uk today.
