Can You Still Drive a Car with a Flat Tire?
4 Answers
You should not continue driving with a flat tire. Here are the relevant details: Hazards of a flat tire: Continuing to drive with a flat tire can cause significant damage to the vehicle's suspension, transmission, and other systems, and may also deform the wheel rim. Most importantly, it endangers personal safety. As the tire loses its support, the stability of the vehicle body severely decreases, making it highly prone to traffic accidents. Therefore, the immediate priority is to slow down gradually and park the car in a relatively safe place to replace the spare tire or call for assistance. Run-flat tires in case of a flat: Of course, run-flat tires offer relatively higher safety. Even after a flat, they do not lose pressure instantly like regular tires. Their sturdy sidewalls can support the car to drive at speeds below 80km/h for about 80 kilometers. However, it's important to note that if the damage area of the run-flat tire is too large, you should not continue driving as it still poses certain safety risks.
If my car has a flat tire, as a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I would never attempt to continue driving. After a flat tire, the tire loses its support, and the steel rim will directly rub against the road surface, causing the wheel hub to deform or even severe damage to the chassis. I remember one time when a friend of mine didn't believe it and insisted on driving several kilometers on the highway after a tire blowout. The result was the entire wheel was ruined, and the repair cost thousands of dollars. Even more terrifying is that the car can suddenly lose control and skid, especially on slippery roads where it's highly prone to rollover. The correct approach is to immediately release the accelerator once a flat tire is detected, firmly grip the steering wheel to stabilize the direction, gently brake to pull over, and turn on the hazard lights while waiting for assistance. Never try to tough it out—safety is more important than anything else. Developing a habit of regularly checking tire pressure can prevent accidents, and replacing aging tires in time can also avoid such dangerous situations.
From my car repair experience, you must never continue driving after a tire blowout. The main reason is that tire pressure drops to zero instantly after a blowout, causing the wheel rim to directly contact the ground and rotate at high speed, which can quickly generate sparks or even cause a fire. Additionally, the suspension system bears uneven stress and is prone to fracture. Once when I was helping someone repair their car, I found that after the left front tire of a small car blew out, the driver still tried to drive, resulting in the entire brake disc being worn flat. Different types of tire blowouts have different manifestations: if it's a slow leak with gradual deflation, you might be able to slowly move to a safer spot; but for sudden loud blowouts, stopping immediately is the only option. A spare tire can be a temporary solution, but you should first pull over to change it, not drive away directly. It's advisable to keep a tire pressure detection tool and tire repair glue in the car just in case.
I was really scared when my car had a flat tire last time. As a working mom, my first thought was the safety of my child in the back seat. Driving with a flat tire was completely out of the question—the wheel could skid or get stuck in a pothole, leading directly to a rear-end collision. I quickly eased off the accelerator, gently applied the brakes, and slowly pulled over to the side before calling a tow truck. During the repair, I found out that if I hadn't stopped immediately, the wheel rim would have been deformed, costing me hundreds more to replace. It's crucial to regularly check tire wear and perform maintenance. In short, no matter how urgent the situation, pulling over and waiting for professional help is the safest choice when you have a flat tire.
