Luckily, flat tires are rare these days.
But when an emergency occurs, you should know what to do.
Even though modern car tires are usually better protected against flat tires than they used to be, punctures are far from a thing of the past.
Because they are now rather rare, drivers often no longer know how to recognize a defect and what to do.
Among other things, there are a few things to consider when handling tire repair kits or emergency tires.
Flat tires: How to notice them while driving - and how to react correctly
Tire problems often only become apparent while driving.
Typical signs are changing feedback from the steering, spongy handling and unusual driving noises.
If a tire control system is on board, this will issue a warning at the same time or as an alternative.
A yellow tire symbol then usually flashes or the display information "Check tire pressure" is shown.
If a leak is indicated, a timely stop and tire check is recommended.
First of all, it is checked whether all tires are evenly round and well inflated or whether there is a defect, for example due to foreign objects on the tread.
If there are no signs, we recommend visiting the nearest gas station for an air pressure test.
On the way there you should slow down and continue to pay attention to driving behavior and noises.
Flat tyre: It is better not to continue driving with a leaking tyre
If the suspected tire problem is confirmed during a visual inspection and air pressure test, there is an urgent need for action.
Continuing to drive with leaking and flat tires is not advisable, as the defect can have a dangerous effect on driving stability.
In addition, the rim could be damaged.
If a defective tire detaches from the rim when you continue driving, flying tire parts also endanger other road users.
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In the event of a flat tire at the side of the road, it is important to set up the warning triangle.
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©Panthermedia/Imago
Run-flat tires cause the least stress in the event of a puncture.
As a rule, these allow you to continue driving even if there is a severe loss of air pressure.
Thanks to its emergency running properties thanks to the side wall reinforcement, it is possible to continue driving for 80 to 300 kilometers at 80 to 100 km/h.
Flat tire: This is how a safe wheel change works
If there are no run-flat tires on the vehicle and there is no open workshop nearby, you have to replace the defective tire yourself or patch it up with the sealing kits that are common today.
If you have to change tires on a vehicle that is parked at the edge of the road or on the hard shoulder, you should activate the hazard warning lights, put on a safety vest and set up the warning triangle.
Occupants should also leave the vehicle.
To change a wheel, the vehicle must be on a stable surface.
First, the parking brake is activated, a gear is engaged or the selector lever is pushed to P.
Then you first loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel nut wrench.
This is pushed onto the nut in a position that is as horizontal as possible, pointing to the left.
If you don't have arm strength to release, you can use leg strength and body weight in this position.
If the wheel nuts are loosened, the jack is used.
As a rule, there is a small indication on the vehicle underbody where this is positioned.
It is cranked to jack it up.
If the palm of your hand fits under the free-floating tires, the required height has been reached.
The previously loosened nuts are then unscrewed and the wheel removed from the hub.
Danger,
this can slip off the hub by itself after loosening the last screw.
Then the new wheel is placed on the hub.
With large and heavy tires, this requires strength.
It can be helpful if a second person lends a hand.
When the holes in the rim match those in the wheel hub, the nuts are screwed in hand-tight crosswise and tightened after releasing the jack.
Flat tire: Be careful with the spare wheel for the first few kilometers
It is better to drive the first few kilometers on a spare wheel with caution.
In many cases, the tire pressure of the spare wheel that is too low can lead to unusual vehicle reactions.
Therefore, you should go to a gas station immediately after the emergency change and set the correct pressure.
On this occasion, the wheel nuts are checked for tightness.
If you don't have a full-fledged spare wheel, but only a narrow emergency wheel, you shouldn't drive long distances either.
In most cases, however, up to 50 kilometers is not a problem.
Control and warning lights in the car: If it lights up red, you should stop immediately
Control and warning lights in the car: If it lights up red, you should stop immediately
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Flat tire: How to fill up with a sealant
Instead of an emergency or spare wheel, many cars nowadays carry a sealant.
If the cause of the breakdown, such as a nail, has been removed, the vehicle is parked with the hole under the underside of the tire.
The tire valve is then removed with an expansion aid and the sealant is poured from a squeeze bottle into the defective tire via the valve guide.
So that this is optimally distributed and better sealed, the tire should then be moved back and forth.
The sealing liquid gradually hardens and closes the defective area from the inside.
After a few minutes of waiting, compressed air must be filled in with a compressor.
With the tires that have now been patched up in a makeshift manner, you can drive to the nearest workshop or tire dealer.
The maximum speed of usually 60 to 80 km/h recommended in the breakdown set instructions should be observed in any case.
The tire must be replaced as soon as possible, as sealant clogs the valves and the tires become unusable in the long run.
If it is a small puncture wound, holes can be patched and damaged tires can be used long-term even after the puncture.
Incidentally, carrying spare tires or breakdown kits is not required by law.
If you don't have either of these to hand in the event of an acute flat tire on the road, you should not attempt to drive to the nearest workshop or rest area, but rather notify a breakdown service.
(Mario Hommen/SP-X)
List of rubrics: © Panthermedia/Imago