Flat tires can be frustrating enough on their own. But, what if you don’t have spares or a garage nearby?
You need to be aware of the limitations of your situation in a predicament such as this. This is why we have prepared this guide to help you when your car needs to be parked on a flat tire.
How Long Can A Car Sit On Flat Tire?
A flat tire can only be left on your car for 24 hours. The risk of your car being damaged by the constant pressure on the rims and tire squeezing increases over time. To avoid further damage, you need to immediately repair or support the tire with a jack.
Continue reading to find out more about flat tires. This includes how to fix them, what to do with them, and how much it costs to replace them.
How Do You Tell If Tire Is Flat Or Just Needs Air?
Flat tires will appear almost instantly and are usually caused by damage to the rubber from sharp objects.
This contact often produces a distinctive pop sound that helps to determine if a tire is flat.
An deflated tire is one that gradually loses air pressure through an air valve or casing thread.
It happens even when the vehicle’s stationary, and it takes longer to notice than a flat tire.
What Happens If You Drive On A Flat Tire For Too Long?
Flat tires are not only unsafe for your vehicle’s handling but can also cause structural damage to your wheel, alignment, brakes and other components like your suspension or steering system.
It may seem tempting to just “limp” your car from one repair shop to another, but this will almost certainly lead to you spending more than the tire.
What is the alternative if your car can’t handle a flat tire?
You should first pull over to the side of your road in order to properly manage the situation. Next, repair the flat with your spare wheel or fix any punctures using an Emergency Sealant.
Notably, emergency sealants are not effective for punctures less than 1/4 inch. It will not work if your tire has been punctured, torn or blown out.
It is time to call a tire technician if you don’t have a spare or a sealant that works.
How can you tell if a tire is slow leaking?
Slow tire leaks sound exactly like they do: small cracks in a tire which cause it to lose air slowly over the course of time. To spot a slow leak, you’ll need to be very careful with your tires.
If you notice frequent flats after changing one or more tires, or low tire pressure after parking for a while, it could be a sign of a slow leak.
If you suspect that a tire is having a slow leak, you could perform a simple inspection at home. To check for leaks, use water.
After your car has been stationary at least 30 minutes, perform this test. Next, use a hose to wet the tire.
If there is a leak, bubbles should be visible breaking through the water. However, this method is not applicable to all slow leaks.
If you notice any of the above signs, you should have your tires examined by professionals, even if there are no air bubbles in the water test.
Can I Drive On A Tire With A Slow Leak?
A slow leak in your tire could make driving dangerous as it can cause a flat tire or increase the risk of a blowout.
If a tire doesn’t retain air as well or you need to pump air into it constantly, you might have a slow leak and should stop driving on it.
To diagnose and fix the problem quickly, it is best to have the tire examined by a professional.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Flat Tire?
A basic DIY tire repair kit, including tools and plugs to fix the puncture, can be purchased for $5-20. However, a larger DIY kit that includes a sealant and a compressor to re-inflate your tire will cost you between $20-$50.
A DIY kit is used to temporarily fix the exterior of the tire until it is repaired properly (with an inner patch or replaced).
A single tire can be replaced for a passenger vehicle if the damage is severe or in an area that cannot be repaired.
Modern suspension systems are best suited for matching tires. If only one tire is replaced, the replacement must match the remaining three.
Although tires are often replaced in pairs, experts recommend replacing all four at once.
What Are The Odds Of Getting A Flat Tire?
Other than mechanical failures, 27% of all roadside emergencies are caused by tire-related issues such as flats
Each second, approximately 7 tire punctures occur in America, which results in 220 million flat tires each year.
Statistics show that every driver will experience at least 5 flat tires in their lifetime.
You can read more about flat tires in our posts on whether you can replace run-flat tire with regular tires, what is the most common flat tire, can you drive on a flat-tire, and how much time do run-flat tires last.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t leave your car on a flat tire more than 24 hours. This is because it can cause damage to the rest.
Flat tires can cause damage to the internal components of the transmission or brake system.
Flat tires are caused by punctures and are often indicated with a pop sound. Deflated tires occur when the tire loses pressure slowly over time, without any punctures.
To avoid tire blowouts, you should check your tires regularly for slow leaks.
Statistics show that all drivers are at least somewhat likely to get a flat tire at some point in their lives. It’s important to be ready for this eventuality by having a trusted towing service, skills, and a spare tire.