Having a flat tyre is never a fun experience, especially if it leaves you stuck on the side of a busy road or major highway. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent a flat from happening and to change it safely if it does happen. At Safe T Tyre, we have a tyre pressure monitoring system suitable for every vehicle make and model. Read on to learn about our top tips for avoiding flat tyres and the safest approach to fitting your spare tyre in the event of an inconvenient flat.
Preventing a Flat Tyre
To help minimize the chances of a flat tyre happening to you:
Keep Tyres Properly Inflated – Air pressure that’s too high can make your vehicle more difficult to handle and can make for a rough ride. Too little pressure can make your tyres wear faster, and more unevenly. Tyres kept at the correct pressure significantly reduces the risk of any issues including flats. You can periodically check your tyre pressure at a service station or invest in a tyre pressure monitoring system which will continually monitor your tyres and alert you to any changes in pressure.
Check for Uneven Tyre Wear – As they saying goes, prevention is better than cure so check your tyres regularly to make sure they are in good condition and that they are wearing evenly. If you see any signs of uneven wear, then it might be a good time to replace your tyres before you are left on the side of the road.
Avoid Bad Road Conditions – The worse the condition of the road, the greater your chances of one of getting a flat. Avoid roads that are uneven, covered with debris or filled with potholes. Not only can these impact your tyres they can cause significant damage to your axles, undercarriage, and wheels. If you must drive on a road that is in poor condition, slow down and leave extra space between you and the car in front, that way, you will have more time to react and safely manoeuvre around debris or potholes.
Safety Tips When Changing a Tyre
Having a flat tyre is not just annoying, it can also be dangerous. Here’s how you can keep safe while and getting back on the road quickly.
Put your hazard lights on – this will let other drivers and road-users that you have a potential issue and will be slowing down.
Gradually slow down and look for a level, straight stretch of road where you can pull over. Level ground will prevent your vehicle from rolling and straight stretches of road are a better place to stop because oncoming traffic is more likely to see you. Never stop suddenly, and don’t stop in the middle of the road.
Check your surroundings and if you feel unsafe for any reason, do not get out of the car. Instead, stay in your vehicle and call for help.
If you are in a safe location and on level ground, make sure you apply the parking break, turn the car off and exit the vehicle, checking for traffic as you do.
If you have any safety markers in your vehicle, place them behind the car and on the road.
Get all of the items you need to change the tyre and lay the spare tyre on its side on the ground so there’s no chance of it rolling away. Remove the hubcap on the flat tyre and loosen the lug nuts. If they are particularly tight, use your foot to lean on it, or put your body weight behind it just remember to keep your back straight when applying force to avoid injury.
Position the jack under the car – you may need to refer the owner’s manual for the correct spot if you are unsure. Slowly raise the car until the flat tyre is about 10cm off the ground.
Remove the flat tyre carefully and place under the car – in the unlikely event the jack fails, the flat tyre will provide support for the car. Slowly push the spare tyre onto the wheel hub, replace the nuts and tighten them as much as you can by hand.
Remove the flat tyre from under the car and lower the jack. Once the spare is taking the weight of the vehicle, slide the jack out from under the car and tighten the nuts fully using the wheel brace.
Stow all of the equipment, including the flat tyre, back into the vehicle.
Once you have packed up check you have left nothing behind, get back into the vehicle, remove your hazard lights and merge back onto the road when it is safe to do so.
Reduce your risk of a flat tyre by installing a tyre pressure monitoring system from Safe T Tyre today. With years of experience in service and safety, we have the knowledge and expertise to provide the best in TPMS technology. Call us today on 1800 876 700 or enquire online to purchase yours now.