How to Deal with a Flat Tire
The fact that you drive on the road even though you may not own a car certainly exposes you to incidents of flat tire. Driving with a flat tire definitely presents serious other problems that can be costly. For one, driving with a flat tire can seriously damage the wheel and possibly the hub. You cannot ignore the damage to the flat tire itself. More serious however, driving with a flat tire especially at a high speed increases the risk of involving yourself in an accident.
Contrary to popular belief, a flat tire is not only caused by a puncture brought about by a sharp object. A tire’s valve system can be faulty, leading to slow loss of air as you drive. Intentional puncturing of a tire through an act of vandalism can at times be a cause of a flat tire. A flat tire can also be caused by particles that end up between the tube and tire, particles allowed in by worn tread. While you can easily repair a flat tire and continue with your journey, a puncture that occurs because of worn out tread requires that you replace the tire.
There are two ways through which you can repair a flat tire (Skal du have skiftet et fladt dæk is the term used in Denmark); use the services of roadside service companies or do it yourself. Making use of roadside tire change service providers requires that you have their contact details. Opting to repair the same on your own requires that you have the appropriate tools to do the job. There are three ways you can go about accomplishing this:
- Make use of a canned tire inflator – This is a can that contains a sealant. You attach the can on the tire’s valve. Because the can is pressurized, the sealant enters the tire and flows towards the punctured point, blocking the hole and inflating the tire. Note that repairing your tire this way is a temporary measure that allows you to continue with your journey. You will need to get the tire properly examined and repaired later.
- Making use of a tire plug – Like with the canned tire inflator, using a tire plug does not require removal of a flat tire. You simply remove the tube and insert a plug coated with a sealant on the punctured location.
- Making use of a patch – Although very involving, making use of a patch is perhaps the most effective way of dealing with a flat tire. You need to have a spare tire, a jack and a lug-nut wrench. Proceed to jack up your car before loosening all the nuts and removing the tire. Fix the spare tire and put back the nuts before jacking down the car. Drive on while looking out for a tire repair shop where patches will be used to repair the punctured tire. Note that it is important to get a flat tire repaired in good time because you never know when you are likely to suffer another puncture.
Having a flat tire while on the road presents several risks not only to you but to other road users as well. Because there is always the risk of you or your car being hit by the passing traffic, it is highly advised that you pull off the road and park at a safe location. It is also important to switch on hazard lights to warn other road users.
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