How you handle a flat tyre depends on whether your car comes equipped with a spare tyre. Unfortunately, many car brands have done away with the spare tyre in order to save space and money, so the first step in the case of a puncture is to check your vehicle handbook for more information and equipment locations.
If your car doesn’t come with a spare tyre, the you’ll need to call for a recovery service. We offer a recovery service in Blandford and the immediate area, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you require assistance getting your vehicle off the road and serviced with a replacement tyre.
You may hear a rhythmic thumping sound and your steering will start to feel erratic or begin to pull to one side. This may not happen suddenly and instead your tyre may deflate over time, but as soon as you start to feel your steering becoming unresponsive you should slow down and look for a safe place to pull over.
It’s important to note that if you are on the side of a motorway or busy carriageway then you should never attempt to repair a tyre yourself as it’s too dangerous and you should instead call for breakdown recovery immediately. If you are on a quiet stretch of road and you have all the equipment that you need, then follow these steps to get your car running again.
Prepare the car
Remove the necessary equipment and passengers from the car. Apply the car handbrake and switch on your hazard lights, chock the wheel that is at a diagonal to the tyre that needs replacing. If you don’t have a chock, a brick or large rock will do the same job and will prevent your car from rolling when jacked.
Prepare the tyre
It’s easier to loosen the wheel nuts before you jack the car up. Do this after levering off the wheel trim. Loosen the wheel nuts to the point that they can be turned by hand, but don’t totally remove them.
Lift the car
Consult your car manual on how to properly do this, as every car has different jacking requirements. Raise the car from near the punctured tyre to between 10-15cm off the ground.
Replace the tyre
Fully remove the wheel nuts and pull the flat tyre off before lining your spare tyre up with the wheel nut slots and tightening them by hand. Lower the car until the wheel is touching the ground and use the wrench to finish tightening the wheel nuts.
Finish up
Once you’ve done this, you can fully lower the car and remove the jack. Double check the tightness of your wheel nuts and the tyre pressure if you can. Drive straight to your nearest petrol station to refill air pressure if too low and then go to your nearest car service station for further professional advice.
Have you suffered a puncture and require a recovery service in Blandford, or require replacement tyres? We are your leading experts for tyres in Blandford, so contact us on 01258 459798 with any enquiries.