What to Do When You Have a Flat Tire at Night?
A tire puncture occurs about once every seven seconds in the US. That equates to about 220 million flat tires every year.
It's not something you expect to happen, but it's always a possibility. A flat tire can be very inconvenient under any circumstances, but it's something you want to happen even less at night. It can be more worrying, as well as more challenging to deal with.
In this guide, we'll go over the steps you should take if you get a flat tire at night so that you can be prepared. Keep reading for more.
Steps to Take if You Get a Flat Tire at Night
If you haven't experienced a flat tire before, you may be worried that you won't be able to deal with it. Fortunately, following these steps will help you resolve the situation.
Don't Panic
An unexpected flat tire can be scary. This is especially true if you have a tire blowout. Despite this, you want to do your best to stay calm.
Regulate your emotions so that you can deal with the situation with a clear head. Carefully move your vehicle to the side of the road so that you're not obstructing traffic, then you can inspect the tire to assess the situation.
Replace the Tire (If Possible)
Most cars come stocked with a donut tire. These aren't as good as your standard wheels but are perfect for getting out of a tough spot. Changing a tire isn't particularly difficult so long as you follow the correct process.
If your car doesn't have a spare, or you're missing any of the tools, this may not be possible. Some cars have specialized repair tools, so you may be able to use these to temporarily repair your tire. This will give you enough time to get to a mechanic who can easily deal with it.
If tire replacement or repair isn't an option, you'll need to call for help.
Phone a Friend
Friends or family are often the best people to call if you have a flat tire. If they're available, they'll be able to come out and help you straight away.
Ideally, you want to call someone who has experience with repairing or changing tires. Someone you know may be able to do this for free, so you don't have to pay for roadside assistance.
Call Roadside Assistance
If there's no one you know available to help, or if your car has been damaged because of a flat tire, you'll need to call for roadside assistance. These services are typically available 24/7, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting help.
Whether you need tire repair or replacement, they should be able to get things sorted quickly. While it can be quite expensive, your insurance should cover part of the costs.
Call Your Insurance Company
Finally, you should call your insurance company for help. Many people don't think to do this as it seems a bit unrelated to the situation. However, it can be quite a good decision.
Insurance companies often have partnerships with auto service companies. If they have a partnership with an auto tire patching service that can help you, they'll be able to get them out to you to assist. This is often a quick solution, and the partnership will most likely save you money.
What if You're on the Highway?
Getting a flat tire on a highway will typically be worse than getting a flat tire on a standard road. There's likely to be more fast-moving traffic, making it a more hazardous situation.
The overall process for getting your tire repaired or replaced is the same as the above. There are, however, some additional safety measures that you should take.
Flashing your lights will alert pedestrians and other drivers of a problem. They may not immediately realize exactly what the issue is but they'll know to be wary.
If you have a hazard warning triangle, place it on the road behind your car. This is especially important at night as there's less visibility, so other drivers will know to be careful.
You could write a sign and place it on your car to let others know you need assistance. You should do this if you need to move away from your vehicle, as someone passing by who can help may spot it and stop to offer assistance.
Changing a tire on the side of the highway is more hazardous than doing so on a normal road. You should only attempt to do it if you're confident you can change it, and you're confident you'll be safe doing so. The last thing you should do is put yourself in danger, so make sure you assess any potential risks before you act.
How to Avoid a Flat Tire
Regular car maintenance is always the best way to avoid problems. Check your tire pressure from time to time to make sure it's correct. Having your tires rotated will also limit the wear on them, making them less likely to have issues.
It's impossible to always avoid objects on the road, but you should still be vigilant. Keep your eyes on the road so that you can see if any hazards are coming up. If it's safe to do so, you may be able to avoid them, reducing the risk of getting a flat tire.
You should also be careful not to overload your car. Tires can only take so much weight, so if you put too much pressure on them, they'll be more likely to puncture.
Avoiding Flat Tires and Keeping Your Car in Good Shape
While dealing with a flat tire at night isn't usually the worst thing in the world, it's still better to avoid having to do so at all. Making sure your car is in a good state with regular maintenance is the best way to avoid issues on the road.
Phil's Service is the only ASE Blue Seal-certified repair shop in Killeen, Texas. If you have any problems with your car or just need some routine maintenance, we can help. Look at our Services page to see more about our car and truck maintenance today.
A tire puncture occurs about once every seven seconds in the US. That equates to about 220 million flat tires every year.
It's not something you expect to happen, but it's always a possibility. A flat tire can be very inconvenient under any circumstances, but it's something you want to happen even less at night. It can be more worrying, as well as more challenging to deal with.
In this guide, we'll go over the steps you should take if you get a flat tire at night so that you can be prepared. Keep reading for more.
Steps to Take if You Get a Flat Tire at Night
If you haven't experienced a flat tire before, you may be worried that you won't be able to deal with it. Fortunately, following these steps will help you resolve the situation.
Don't Panic
An unexpected flat tire can be scary. This is especially true if you have a tire blowout. Despite this, you want to do your best to stay calm.
Regulate your emotions so that you can deal with the situation with a clear head. Carefully move your vehicle to the side of the road so that you're not obstructing traffic, then you can inspect the tire to assess the situation.
Replace the Tire (If Possible)
Most cars come stocked with a donut tire. These aren't as good as your standard wheels but are perfect for getting out of a tough spot. Changing a tire isn't particularly difficult so long as you follow the correct process.
If your car doesn't have a spare, or you're missing any of the tools, this may not be possible. Some cars have specialized repair tools, so you may be able to use these to temporarily repair your tire. This will give you enough time to get to a mechanic who can easily deal with it.
If tire replacement or repair isn't an option, you'll need to call for help.
Phone a Friend
Friends or family are often the best people to call if you have a flat tire. If they're available, they'll be able to come out and help you straight away.
Ideally, you want to call someone who has experience with repairing or changing tires. Someone you know may be able to do this for free, so you don't have to pay for roadside assistance.
Call Roadside Assistance
If there's no one you know available to help, or if your car has been damaged because of a flat tire, you'll need to call for roadside assistance. These services are typically available 24/7, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting help.
Whether you need tire repair or replacement, they should be able to get things sorted quickly. While it can be quite expensive, your insurance should cover part of the costs.
Call Your Insurance Company
Finally, you should call your insurance company for help. Many people don't think to do this as it seems a bit unrelated to the situation. However, it can be quite a good decision.
Insurance companies often have partnerships with auto service companies. If they have a partnership with an auto tire patching service that can help you, they'll be able to get them out to you to assist. This is often a quick solution, and the partnership will most likely save you money.
What if You're on the Highway?
Getting a flat tire on a highway will typically be worse than getting a flat tire on a standard road. There's likely to be more fast-moving traffic, making it a more hazardous situation.
The overall process for getting your tire repaired or replaced is the same as the above. There are, however, some additional safety measures that you should take.
Flashing your lights will alert pedestrians and other drivers of a problem. They may not immediately realize exactly what the issue is but they'll know to be wary.
If you have a hazard warning triangle, place it on the road behind your car. This is especially important at night as there's less visibility, so other drivers will know to be careful.
You could write a sign and place it on your car to let others know you need assistance. You should do this if you need to move away from your vehicle, as someone passing by who can help may spot it and stop to offer assistance.
Changing a tire on the side of the highway is more hazardous than doing so on a normal road. You should only attempt to do it if you're confident you can change it, and you're confident you'll be safe doing so. The last thing you should do is put yourself in danger, so make sure you assess any potential risks before you act.
How to Avoid a Flat Tire
Regular car maintenance is always the best way to avoid problems. Check your tire pressure from time to time to make sure it's correct. Having your tires rotated will also limit the wear on them, making them less likely to have issues.
It's impossible to always avoid objects on the road, but you should still be vigilant. Keep your eyes on the road so that you can see if any hazards are coming up. If it's safe to do so, you may be able to avoid them, reducing the risk of getting a flat tire.
You should also be careful not to overload your car. Tires can only take so much weight, so if you put too much pressure on them, they'll be more likely to puncture.
Avoiding Flat Tires and Keeping Your Car in Good Shape
While dealing with a flat tire at night isn't usually the worst thing in the world, it's still better to avoid having to do so at all. Making sure your car is in a good state with regular maintenance is the best way to avoid issues on the road.
Phil's Service is the only ASE Blue Seal-certified repair shop in Killeen, Texas. If you have any problems with your car or just need some routine maintenance, we can help. Look at our Services page to see more about our car and truck maintenance today.
