What Happens When You Drive On a Flat Tire?

Tire blowouts usually come as a surprise. Although it is hard to prevent flat tires 100%, there are certain things that can help you save some costly repairs. Staying ahead of general tire wear and regular tire maintenance can be of great help. In this article, we will talk about how driving on a flat tire can negatively affect your vehicle and how to prevent such situations. 

Causes of flat tire

Flat tires usually occur from causes that are not under our control. This includes punctures from foreign objects like screws, nails, glass, slow leaks, and road hazards such as potholes and poor road construction. Tire conditions can also be a cause of unwanted tire blowouts. Paying frequent attention to tread wear and tire pressure can be very useful in this case. That's where Cerebrum Smart Tire Technology comes into play. Tires installed with Cerebrum Sensors are capable of notifying unhealthy tread and risky tire pressure. It also reports slow leaks and the distance the tire could travel safely before it loses all the drivable tire pressure. 

How far can you drive on a flat tire?

It is never a good idea to drive the vehicle on a flat tire but it may be the right thing to take your vehicle at a safe distance, away from other vehicles. If you experience a blowout while on the road, turn on your hazard lights, avoid braking and slowly direct your vehicle to the safest location. Use the user manual to change the tire with the spare tire and take it to the nearest tire shop to get the new tire installed by a technician. If you don’t have a spare then calling an insurance company is a good idea.

Some cars are equipped with run-flat tires, which allow you to drive for 50 miles at 50 mph. Make sure you know what type of tires your vehicle comes with. Run-flat tires are a lifesaver in case you get a puncture in a secluded area where you can't find a tire shop or technician for help. 

What are the outcomes if you drive on a flat tire?

Further Tire Damage

Getting a flat tire does not bring your tire’s life to an end - unless you keep driving on it without repair. Small punctures and air leaks are usually reparable. Continued driving at low pressure or a punctured tire would expand the puncture and damage the integrity of the tire construction. 

Bent or Warped Rims

Driving on flat tire transfers the weight of the vehicle on the rim’s edges. Rims are not supposed to touch the road surface. This metal part can get bent, warped, or permanently damaged. 

Vehicle Damage

Continuous driving on a flat tire would eventually degrade the tire and start affecting the several essential components of the vehicle such as brakes, rotors, suspension parts, calipers, and fenders. This would increase the safety concern of the driver and passengers. This could result in a very high cost to fix which might not be covered by the insurance company.

Safety Hazards

Tires are responsible for multiple functions in a vehicle. It not only keeps the vehicle rolling on the road, but also provides proper traction to have a good grip on the road and avoid slipping. Tires carry the entire load of the vehicle, helping you to take turns, accelerate and stop as you wish. Driving on a flat tire makes you lose control of the vehicle handling. Cerebrum Smart Tire Sensor gives notifications for overloading of the tire and helps you to take proactive actions. 

Proper Tire Care

Implementing basic tire care practices can be of great help in the long run.

• Check the tire max load holding capacity and avoid heavy loads that may weigh down on your tires
• Maintain proper tire pressure recommended by the vehicle OEM 

Cerebrum Smart Tire technology gives real-time notifications for load, pressure, temperature, and alignment hazards to avoid any mishappening. 

Visual inspections:

• Regularly inspect your tires for surface cracks or bulging
• Keep an eye out for foreign objects (screws, nails, etc.), punctures, and slow leaks 

Other helpful tips:

• Practice safe driving habits. Avoid hard start/stops and aggressive driving 
• Replace and rotate your tires when necessary

Check out the revolution in tire care from intelligent tire sensing technology offered by Cerebrum Tire Sensors, which works with any tire type or tire brand in the market. Be safe out there!