There’s only one thing worse than a flat tire. A flat tire in the winter. Sometimes there’s just no way to avoid getting a nail or bungee cord stuck in your tire, but there are options for fixing it. Before the winter weather really hits, here’s a quick primer on flat tire repair.
The Easy Method: Call Zohr
Did you drive to work on your spare today? Schedule a tire repair in Carrollton or anywhere in the Dallas metro. Since we have everything we need to on our mobile service vans to patch your tire, we can do at your home or office and get you on your way.
Often when a tire is punctured, the offending nail just stays there, plugging its own puncture. Modern tires are designed to form a tight seal around the stump of the nail, but air can slowly escape over time. This is often how a “slow leak” forms. So if you find yourself having to put air in one of your tires every few days, you might have a puncture.
If this is the case, schedule a repair with us, and we’ll come to your location, dismount the tire, patch the puncture, and remount the tire.
Don’t Drive On It
If you have a slow leak, you can drive on it, as long as you make sure to keep enough air in it, though it’s still a good idea to get it repaired as soon as possible. (Learn how to fill up a tire here [link].)
But if you have a fully flat tire, signified by the telltale whump whump whump noise as you drive along, pull over immediately. There’s a good chance you can still have the tire repaired, but if you keep driving on it, you might damage the sidewall.
Rule #1 of tire repair: If the sidewall is damaged, the tire is done. It’s sad but true. But the longer you roll the heavy wheels of your car over that sidewall, the less chance you have of that sidewall emerging unscathed. So If you hear the whump whump, put your hazards on and pull over as soon as you safely can.
Mounting the Spare Wheel
Changing to the spare isn’t difficult. While many new cars now come only with an aerosol tire repair kit, (more on that later), many still include a spare wheel, jack, and tire iron, and that’s all you really need.
First, park your car on flat, level ground in a safe area. Next, loosen the lug nuts using the tire iron. Do this while the car is on the ground to prevent the wheel from spinning as you turn the wrench. If it’s a rear wheel, you can also use the parking brake to this effect.
Next, check your owner’s manual for the safe jacking point under your car. It’s usually toward the front of the car, just under the area near the door hinge. Crank up the jack until your flat tire is off the ground, then keep cranking. Remember, that tire is flat, so it’s sitting lower than it would be full.
Now that the car is up, remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Don’t lose track of them. Remove the wheel. It might be a little stuck, but a swift kick to the rim should dislodge it. Next, mount the spare wheel.
This might be a good time to mention that you should always keep your spare tire aired up to its proper PSI. Many drivers neglect this little guy while they’re airing up their other tires, and it can go flat after years of sitting in your trunk, even if it’s in good shape.
Replace the lug nuts, then hand-tighten them with the lug wrench. Lower the car off the jack, then tighten them again, this time with more pressure. Putting your weight on the handle of the lug wrench will usually assure they’re tight enough. When you tighten them, use a “star” pattern, tightening one nut, then a nut across from it, rather than one next to it. This will help make sure the wheel is properly seated.
Most spare tires are limited to 50 mph, so take it easy until you can get your flat tire repaired and back on your car.
Fix in a Can
An aerosol puncture repair kit looks great on paper. It’s a can that you hook up to the punctured tire’s valve stem, and as you spray the repair materials into the tire, it also supplies pressurized air to reinflate the tire.
But the success rate isn’t great with aerosol kits. Sometimes they’ll plug the hole, and sometimes they won’t. If there’s any sidewall damage, you’ll still be stranded. Plus, once they’re empty, they’re done. And they’re not exactly cheap to replace. We recommend that you also carry a jack and spare when on longer trips.
Fixing a Tire by Yourself
You have the option to patch the tire yourself. Available at auto parts stores, a tire patch kit involves shoving sticks of adhesive, tar-like substance into the puncture, after the foreign object is removed and the puncture is widened and textured. A portion of the repair material is left outside the surface of the tire, so as you drive along, it forms a gummy patch over the puncture.
Like the aerosol kits, the success rate here varies. Even if you are able to patch a puncture using this method, it’s still a good idea to get a more permanent patch before it starts leaking again. Home tire patching is also a somewhat difficult project, and can require significant strength.
If you need a tire repair don’t hesitate to reach out to Zohr. We service the entire Dallas metro, and we can be there on your schedule. We can also assess if the tire is too far damaged to be repaired, then source you a replacement, with mobile tire installation wherever you are.
What to Do if You Have a Flat Tire in the Winter? | Zohr
