What to Do If a Tire Gets Punctured?
3 Answers
There are several solutions for a punctured tire: 1. Tire Pressure Monitoring: First, check the vehicle's tires. Nowadays, most vehicles are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring function. If this function is available, check whether the tire pressure monitoring system has issued an alarm. If it has, it indicates that the vehicle's tire pressure is too low. If this function is not available, you can visually inspect all four tires. For example, compare the tires in pairs to see which one appears smaller. 2. Finding a Repair Shop: After identifying which tire has the issue, first observe the extent of the damage. If the damage is minor and there is no significant fluctuation in tire pressure, or if the wheel is not making a hissing sound, then do not remove the foreign object stuck in the tire at this time. Simply reduce your driving speed and look for a nearby repair shop to have the tire patched.
A punctured tire can be quite scary. First, stay calm and find a safe spot to pull over, like the roadside or a parking lot—never stop in the middle of a highway. After opening the door, immediately turn on the hazard lights and place a warning triangle 50 meters behind the car to alert other drivers and avoid rear-end collisions. Get out and check the tire condition. If it's a small nail or puncture and the tire still holds air, use a portable inflator to temporarily refill it and drive to a repair shop. Forcing a flat tire to move will damage the wheel rim, making things worse. If you can change to a spare tire, locate the jack and wrench from the toolkit, follow the manual’s steps—loosen the bolts first, then lift the car securely. After mounting the spare, tighten the bolts properly and remember to drive slowly (speed limit: 80 km/h). Afterwards, visit a professional ASAP to patch or replace the tire to reduce blowout risks. Also, make it a habit to check tire pressure and tread wear monthly.
I've encountered punctured tires a few times, and changing a spare tire by myself is quite simple. Immediately pull over to a safe roadside area, turn on hazard lights and place warning triangles to prevent accidents. Open the trunk to find the spare tire and tools, wearing gloves to keep hands clean. Loosen the bolts but keep one slightly loose, then locate a sturdy chassis point to securely position the jack before lifting the car. After completely removing the damaged tire, install the new one, tightening the bolts in a crisscross pattern gradually to avoid damaging the wheel by over-tightening at once. Spare tires are usually smaller, so don't exceed the speed limit of 70-80 km/h when driving. After handling it, drive to a shop to check the original tire; patching it saves money and is eco-friendly. After practicing a few times, it doesn't seem troublesome—just stay calm, move slowly to ensure safety, and avoid spending extra on towing services.
