Is It Serious to Drive a Short Distance with a Flat Tire?
3 Answers
Driving a short distance with a flat tire is not serious. Here are the solutions for dealing with a flat car tire. Protective Measures: If the car tire is flat, you can still drive a short distance to find a repair point to inflate or replace the tire as soon as possible, but you should not drive too far. Effects of Driving with a Flat Tire: The tread may be crushed; the steel rim may be damaged or deformed when it comes into contact with hard objects on the road; the car suspension may be severely damaged. Tire Usability: If signs of driving with low pressure are visible on the tire (such as sidewall crush marks or air barrier bubbles), the tire is not worth repairing because the tire structure may have been compromised and can no longer be used.
Driving on a flat tire is extremely dangerous. I once tried it in a hurry, and the car became very unstable, with the steering wheel becoming heavy and difficult to control, especially when turning—I almost hit the guardrail. When a tire is underinflated, the sidewalls can deform directly, and cracks can appear after just a few hundred meters of driving. If driven longer, the entire tire may be ruined. Even worse, the wheel rim could deform, making repairs particularly troublesome. I remember a neighbor once drove two kilometers like this and ended up spending nearly a thousand yuan on a new tire and wheel rim repairs. In such situations, it’s best to pull over immediately, either change to the spare tire or call for roadside assistance—safety is always the top priority.
I've seen many cases of driving on flat tires, and the problems are far more serious than imagined. Without air pressure support, the internal structure of the tire can be quickly damaged, with the tread deformed and cracked due to compression. The high temperature and friction may even lead to a blowout. Last time at the repair shop, I saw a car that had been driven less than three kilometers with the entire inner side of the tire deeply cracked from being pressed by the rim, rendering it completely unusable. Moreover, driving like this for an extended period can also damage the suspension system, with repair bills easily running into thousands. If you find a tire flat, it's best to stop immediately, either change to the spare tire yourself or call for assistance. Never risk driving to the repair shop just to save trouble.
