Drivers across the UK run into some kind of tyre trouble every 90 seconds – that’s around 40 flat tyres, blowouts, or punctures every hour.
Around 360,000 people were faced with a flat tyre last year, but do you know what to do if it happens to you? According to research by Green Flag, around 40% of drivers said they would have a go at fixing a flat tyre themselves.
If you’re someone who likes rolling their sleeves up but wouldn’t know where to start, we’re here with a guide on how to change a tyre.
What to do if you get a flat tyre
- If you think you’ve got a flat tyre, slow down and find a safe place to stop off the road. If you’re on the motorway, don’t try to change a tyre yourself, even if you’re on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area.
- Put on a high-visibility vest (if you have one) and place a reflective hazard warning triangle around 45 metres behind your car to alert oncoming traffic.
- Find the spare wheel, jack, wheel brace and locking wheel nut key. They should be under the boot floor, under the car or on the back door.
- If you can’t find a spare wheel, your car might have a can of mousse that you can squirt into the tyre through the valve. This is only a temporary solution to get you home, and you should get the tyre changed as soon as possible.
- To remove the punctured wheel and tyre, loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench, but don’t remove them yet. If you can’t see the wheel nuts, you may have to prise off a cover first. If your car has alloy wheels, one of the nuts is likely to be locking. There will be a key that will fit into the wheel brace to undo it.
- Check the handbrake is firmly on and put the car into first gear for manual and park for automatic. Find the jacking point by looking in your car’s manual and use the jack to raise the car so that the wheel with the punctured tyre is off the ground.
- Remove the wheel nuts and take the wheel off. If the wheel won’t budge, call Green Flag or your breakdown provider – pushing and pulling it could bring the car off the jack.
- Lift the spare wheel onto the hub, line up the holes and screw in the nuts until they’re tight.
- When the wheel’s secure, lower the jack and use the wrench to tighten the wheel nuts fully.
- Check all the nuts twice to make sure none are loose.
No spare tyre?
Not everyone has a spare tyre.
In fact, most new cars don’t come with a spare tyre at all to save on space, increase fuel economy, and lower weight.
However, all that extra space and fuel are no good to you when you get a flat. So, what should you do?
Luckily, most new cars come equipped with a puncture repair kit. You can usually find it where the spare tyre would normally be kept.
The kit, which contains a can of sealant and an air compressor, can work as a temporary fix, so you can get to a garage for a full repair.
Here’s what to do:
- Attach the can of sealant to the tyre valve and inject the contents into the tyre.
- Inflate the tyre to the recommended pressure using the air compressor.
- Drive a short distance to spread the sealant.
- Get your tyre fixed as soon as possible.
You shouldn’t use a repair kit if the wheel rim is damaged, if the puncture is bigger than 4mm in diameter, or if the damage is on the sidewall of the tyre rather than the tread.
Keep an eye on your tyres
If all that sounds too much like hard work, there are some things you can do to help prevent a flat trye happening in the first place.
Our research showed that nearly two-thirds of drivers regularly check the condition and pressure of their tyres.
That’s a good place to start – here are some other things you can do to keep your tyres in good working order:
Check the tread depth – Your tread depth is crucial for safety, especially when you’re driving in difficult weather conditions. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, which is about the width of four credit cards stacked on top of each other. If your tyre tread is below the minimum, get it replaced immediately.
Wear and tear – Check your tyres for signs of damage, like bulges or cuts, and remove any items lodged in them. If you spot any problems, get them checked out by a professional.
Keep them clean – Keep your tyres clean so you can easily spot any signs of wear and tear. Making sure your tyres are free of dirt, grease or debris will help make sure they perform as they should.
Maintain the valves – Make sure all your tyre valves have caps and check for any air leaks. This can help extend the life and maintain the performance of your tyres.
Katie Lomas, Managing Director of Green Flag, has one other piece of advice: “While it is good news that drivers are checking their main tyres for pressure and any wear and tear, we encourage them to take just as much caution when it comes to their spare tyres. This will help them avoid being caught out if they find themselves at the roadside with a flat or blown-out tyre.
“And while calling upon a family member or taking a DIY approach to fixing a flat tyre can be good, nothing beats the peace of mind that comes by having your tyre replaced safely and securely by a breakdown provider or an expert.”
Remember, if you get in to trouble on the roads this winter, Green Flag is here to help.
Thanks for your tips and advice if I was unfortunate to have a flat tyre etc!
Thank you for excellent advice and very straightforward instruction. Most user friendly. I have posted this information to my mobile phone should I need it.
All good sence thank you Ian
great advice again, i have been there i know what its like
Interesting reading, but I would have to get you guys in to change the tyre.
Useful information but I would get Green Flag to assist me especially as I am 81 years of age.
This is very good advice. I am a driving instructor and I still teach pupils how to change a tyre. However, it should not be attempted if your vehicle is in a vulnerable position or you are not a fairly robust person – wheels tend to be heavy.
I’m in the same boat I’m 66 and struggling with balance getting up and down that is why I took out cover for this reason.
Always changed my tyres but now at 85 I go for the easy life hence Green Flag.
I would be the same geet Green flag to fix it as I am 86 years old.
Thank-you Green Flag.
What to do if nothing to change/repair?
I used to change my own tyres; just another job to be done and fortunately didn5happen so often. But I’m now pushing my way up the age scale and am not so agile and strong.
In an awkward corner it has to be Green Flag for me. Sorry GF
Green Flag have already assisted me about 3 weeksago. No spare! and I am 85 years of age!!
Sound advise, im an ex mechanic and garage proprietor. Unfortunately due to my age and disabilities I would phone Green Flag.
I know how to change a punctured wheel Sadly my car that I bought a couple of years ago doesnt have a spare
There is a canister but I didn’t know what to do with it until I read your article but I still find it daunting
Yeah Michael I’m 3 years younger than you, and I’d have the same problems Thank goodness for green flag. They’re the tops.
Yes I am 71yrs and have loow stress levels so my goodness hope I don’t get flat tyre. I paid to get all tyres replaced 2 months ago though garage assured me they were still legal but I wanted peace of mind so told garage wanted all replaced. Its worth it for my peace of mind and made me confident
I am of the same opinion as the previous member and happen to be in a similar age group although the main reason I would prefer assistance is that I don’t have a spare and don’t trust pumping gunge into my tyre.
Great information, hope i don’t need it
I also am 81 but I have experience changing wheels. I owned the best vehicle in the world, a Land Rover Defender ( a real one) and offroading in Africa and Eastern Europe often produced a puncture amongs our group.
It really is not that difficult.
Thank you.
Really good advice for those able to do it as I have in the past. Now as a female senior I couldn’t even lift up the wheel to replace it so I am just grateful to know I can rely upon Green Flag for any breakdown emergencies
Yes but I’m 85. Will have to be. Green flag
I have often found it impossible to loosen the wheel nuts because the suppliers of new tyres use a tool to tighten the nuts beyond what I (an 88 year-old) can undo !
I have had the misfortune to change a wheel but as I’m 84 it’s call the experts for me.
I’m afraid I would have to call Green Flag, I have never changed a tyre, my husband would do that. But as I’m 82 years old, I feel it would be too much of a risk.
I am 86 years old, I have been driving since I was 17.5 years old, Lorries, busses, vans and cars, I I have changed many many tyres in my life, thanks for the Tips.
Over the years I’ve changed many tyres, but I’m now 74 and have arthritis, so, would have to call Green Flag
We have a Tesla and it doesn’t seem to have even a locking wheel nut let alone puncture kit .Any suggestions.
I have just recently changed my car as you have pointed out about it doesn’t have a spare tyre, I have had 4 new tyre’s changed I had the best tyre put in the boot ,i am looking to buy a rim for it. As I think a spare wheel is the safest option. Thanks for your advice.
Useful information .I was told this when I first started driving cars and
lorries when I was 18 and have kept this in my head ever since.
Now at the age of 93 i am afraid I will have to get help, although I still do some of the things.
I have been driving since 1958 and have changed tyres a few times in the past but now at the age of 88 with no experience of the latest temporary repair kits I would rely on the help of the green flag engineer to give me the confidence to get homesafely.
Please share a video with us on how to repair a punctured tyre
I experienced a flat tyre this week and found the “mousse” expired in 2022. I recognise the fault lies with me for not checking but (a) is this something that would be checked as part of the MOT? And (b) though out of date would it have been safe to use? A local garage got me through, thankfully.
Does using the puncture repair kit
prevent a permanent repair at a tyre repair depot because of contamination following use of repair kit.
You really need to add that if you have pulled on to the hard shoulder of the Motorway with a flat tyre, to get everybody out if the car by the nearside doors and well away from the car. Put on your hazard warning lights and side lights if its dark as well as the steps you mentioned.
I would not attempt to change a tyre basically because i’m 83 years old and have arthritic hands