Can You Drive on a Flat Tyre? What Happens If You Do
It is a situation most drivers face at some point: you come back to your car and find a tyre completely flat, or you feel one deflate as you drive. The temptation is to limp to the nearest garage, but driving on a flat tyre can be dangerous and costly. Here is what you need to know.
The short answer: avoid it if you can
Driving on a fully flat tyre is strongly discouraged. Without air, the tyre cannot support the weight of the car, the rubber overheats and breaks up, and you are effectively running on the metal wheel. Even a short distance can destroy the tyre beyond repair and damage the wheel itself.
You also lose a significant amount of steering and braking control, particularly in a corner or emergency, which makes driving on a flat a genuine safety hazard to you and others.
How far can you actually drive?
If you absolutely must move the car a few metres to reach a safe spot, do so slowly and carefully. Beyond that, you should not drive on a flat. What may feel like a small saving in time often turns a repairable puncture into a write-off, and can add the cost of a new wheel, or even suspension damage, on top of a new tyre.
Run-flat tyres are different
If your car is fitted with run-flat tyres, they are designed to be driven on for a limited distance after a loss of pressure, typically up to around 50 miles at a reduced speed of around 50mph. Check your handbook for the exact figures. Even so, a run-flat that has been driven on usually needs replacing rather than repairing.
The safer alternative
Instead of risking further damage, stay put and call a mobile tyre fitter. We come to your location with a new tyre, fit and balance it on the spot, and have you back on the road, often within 30 to 45 minutes. It saves your wheel, avoids a tow, and is usually quicker than driving to a garage on a ruined tyre.
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