Tips

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drive On A Flat Tire

Published

7 years ago

July 26, 2017

Getting a flat tire on the road can be a scary experience,but what you do in the moments after the flat tire is very important.

Once a tire loses a large amount of air pressure,it causes a flat tire.Overuse, puncture,improper air pressure,or a defect can cause a tire to become flat.Driving on underinflated tires can cause damage and increased wear on the tire earlier than if you were to drive on tires that are properly inflated.

As soon as you have a flat tire,you should slow the vehicle gradually and carefully pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible.The flat tire should be changed and replaced with the spare tire.

The Following Are The Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drive On A Flat Tire

1)You Could Damage The Tire Beyond Repair
A repair that starts off as simple as a tire patch can end up costing you thousands of naira if a flat tire is driven on for an extended period of time.
If the flat was caused by a puncture to the tread,it can generally be repaired.For passenger tires,large cuts,sidewall punctures and tires with internal damage generally need to be replaced,and you can only see internal damage after the tire has been dismounted.

2)You Could Damage The Rims

Driving a flat tire that’s completely underinflated means you’re driving on your rims,which means you’re probably bending or totally damaging your rims.

In rare cases,it could create a fire.When you continue to drive on a flat tire,friction between the metal rim and the road can ignite sparks,which can lead to a blazing fire and possibly setting the car and its surroundings ablaze.

3)You Could Damage Your Vehicle
If you fail to change a flat tire in a timely manner,it can cause the brake lines,calipers, rotors,suspension components,fenders, wheels and the braking system to get damaged,making it more difficult to stop the vehicle in case of an emergency.

4)You Could Lose Control And Seriously Hurt Yourself Or Others
If you continue to drive on the flat tire,the car will pull heavily to one side making it difficult to drive in a straight line.In the absence a tire,it causes a metal/road interface,which adversely affect road holding.Driving on rims expose the driver to enormous danger of losing control,which could lead to an accident,injury or death to the passengers in the vehicle or those around the vehicle.

How to Avoid Having A Flat Tire
It is not advisable to drive on tires that has visible defects such as bumps or bulges on the sidewall of the tire.
Other useful tips includes
1)Proper tire size,type and load capacity(or load range)
2)Proper inflation pressure
3)Proper vehicle loading
4)Regular tire rotation
5)Regular inspection
6)Proper tire repair
7)Vehicle condition,alignment and maintenance
8)Good driving habits

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