Can You Continue Driving with a Punctured Tire?
2 Answers
In the case of a punctured tire, it is not recommended to continue driving. If you find that the tire is leaking due to a puncture, you should immediately pull over to the side of the road and not continue driving, as this could lead to the tire being completely ruined. Precautions for a punctured car tire: If the sidewall of the tire is punctured by a nail, you should not drive either. Even if the sidewall is patched, it is not safe, as the sidewall is the thinnest and most vulnerable part of the tire. Damage to the sidewall can lead to potential blowout hazards. If you plan to drive on the highway, you must replace the tire immediately and not continue driving. The tread, being thicker, is less of a concern. If it's a small nail, it might not have even punctured the tire, but you should still have it checked at a repair shop to be sure. If your tire is punctured by a nail, it is advised not to remove the nail immediately; instead, drive to the nearest repair shop and have it removed there. How to handle a punctured tire: If the tire is punctured but not leaking, do not remove the foreign object on your own. Removing it might cause the tire to start leaking, making the car undrivable. You can drive slowly to a repair location. If you notice severe tire leakage, never force the car to drive, as this not only damages the tire but also poses a driving hazard.
After a tire gets punctured, it's best not to continue driving as the risks are extremely high. I've experienced a similar situation before - I was in a hurry and didn't pull over, which resulted in a sudden blowout while driving, nearly causing an accident due to loss of steering control. A deflating tire with reduced pressure is prone to sidewall deformation, significantly increasing the risk of blowout. This becomes particularly dangerous on highways at high speeds, potentially leading to vehicle rollovers or rear-end collisions. If you absolutely must move the vehicle, do so at very low speeds (below 30 km/h), avoiding sudden braking or sharp turns, and immediately proceed to a safe location for inspection. Remember though, this is only a temporary solution - the proper procedure is to pull over immediately with hazard lights on, exit the vehicle to assess the damage: if the leak is minor, you might attempt driving to a nearby repair shop; if it's leaking rapidly or feels unstable, change to the spare tire or call for a tow truck. Safety first - don't gamble with your life. Regular tire inspections for nails or foreign objects can prevent such issues. Tire repairs cost little, but accident damages could be far more expensive.
