A puncture is something that can strike anyone’s car without any real warning. It could occur due to some unseen debris on the road or because of some kind of other defect on one of the car’s tyres.
It may even occur because the tyre is over or underinflated, which is why tyre pressures are so important and need regular checks. Over a variable amount of time, a puncture deflates a car’s tyre until it becomes completely flat, making it incredibly dangerous to drive on.
Whatever the case, it’s an issue that needs to be dealt with swiftly and properly if it occurs on your car and if you do this then the cost to resolve the issue could be very low.
Perhaps right now you know your car has a puncture, or you at least suspect that may be the case. Alternatively, you may be wondering what to do should the scenario hypothetically occur in the future. If any of these are the case, read on through this guide which goes through the questions you’re most likely to have regarding punctures on cars.
I think my car may have a puncture. How can I be sure of this?
There are numerous abnormal things a driver could pick up on when driving their car which are signs that one of the car’s tyres has a puncture.
If recently or in the future you feel the steering wheel shudder, or it veers to the left or right or feels heavier than usual, then it’s worth checking your tyres. Upon observing your tyres you may observe either a defect or even hear the sound of the affected tyre slowly deflating.
What do I do if a puncture on my car is confirmed?
First of all, if you’re reading this guide because you’ve got a puncture on your car right now, we’re going to assume you’ve already stopped your car.
Whether that’s the case or now, the main thing to remember is that if you suspect or know your car has a puncture, cautiously manoeuvre it to a safe, well-lit area preferably a good distance away from the main roads.
If you have a safety triangle in your car, this would be a good time to use it if you’ve confirmed there’s a puncture. Remember to put it about 45-50 metres from your car facing the oncoming traffic.
If you have good reason to suspect you have a puncture while driving on the motorway, pull up on the hard shoulder, but be really careful when assessing your car and DON’T attempt any repair work.
When a car has a puncture on one of its tyres, the wheel needs to be removed so it can be inspected for internal damage.
If you have a spare tyre in your car (full-sized or a space saver), then fit on your car in place of the punctured tyre. You can check out our separate guide on how to change a tyre if you’re not already familiar with this task. When you fit the spare tyre, you are going to want to drive to your nearest service garage as soon as possible to get the tyre and the affected wheel checked.
If you don’t have a spare tyre with you, then call an emergency breakdown service to recover up your stricken car. This is a much safer thing to do then to take your chances driving the car anywhere on its still damaged tyre. Even if it’s a slow puncture, this is always a very risky thing to do.
Is the damage permanent?
Expert mechanics will need to remove the tyre from the wheel to check the extent of damage to both. While tyres can be injected with pre-puncture or post-puncture sealants through the tyre valve, designed to keep the pressure of the tyre at a healthy amount even if a problem occurs, these can’t be considered permanent repairs.
Depending on things like the severity of the puncture and how long the car was driven after being punctured, the wheel may be fine and it’s only the tyre that needs addressing. Service garages have various solutions and tools at their disposal which could fix a punctured tyre, depending on the severity of the damage.
Is it expensive to repair or replace punctured tyres?
Again, this depends on the extent of damage which has occurred due to a puncture.
Fixing a tyre may hardly cost a thing if it’s a relatively straightforward job but you may have to face up to a bill of around a hundred pounds or more if there is more severe damage which requires a tyre or even a wheel replacement. Just make sure you go to a well-trusted service garage when you’re looking to get your car mended.