Flat Tire? What to Do Step by Step (and When It Can Be Repaired)
If you get a flat, slow down gradually, turn on your hazard lights and pull well off the road on level ground. Change to the spare only if you can do it safely away from traffic; otherwise call roadside assistance. Temporary spares are usually limited to 50 mph and about 50 to 70 miles, so drive to a tire shop soon. A tread puncture up to 1/4 inch can often be repaired if the tire was not driven flat.
Step by step
- Get safe. Hazards on, pull far off the road, parking brake on. On a freeway, exit if you can do it slowly.
- Decide. If traffic is close or the ground is soft or sloped, stay in the car with your seat belt on and call roadside assistance.
- Prepare. Get the spare, jack and wrench. Wedge the wheel diagonally opposite the flat.
- Loosen first. Loosen the lug nuts half a turn while the tire is still on the ground.
- Jack at the jacking point shown in the owner's manual, and never put any part of your body under the car.
- Swap and tighten the nuts in a star pattern, lower the car, then tighten fully.
- Check the spare's pressure as soon as you can, and have the lug nuts re-torqued.
Spare and run-flat limits
| Type | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| Temporary (donut) spare | 50 mph, about 50 to 70 miles (see the label on the spare) |
| Full-size spare | Same as a regular tire, if it is in good condition |
| Run-flat tire | About 50 miles at 50 mph after losing pressure (check the manual) |
Repair or replace?
Use the nail damage scanner to mark where the puncture is, and read the puncture repair rules. The listed price for a plug-and-patch repair on AppointAuto is $29.99.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use a tire sealant kit?
It can get you to a shop, but tell the technician you used it. Some sealants must be cleaned out before a proper plug-and-patch repair, and they can damage TPMS sensors.
How far can I drive on a run-flat tire?
Typically up to about 50 miles at up to 50 mph after losing pressure, but check the limits in your owner's manual. Many manufacturers advise replacing rather than repairing a run-flat that was driven without air.
Why should I not drive on a flat to the shop?
Driving on a flat or very low tire crushes and overheats the sidewall from the inside. Even if the puncture itself was small, the tire may no longer be repairable.
Can a nail in my tire be repaired?
Usually yes, if the puncture is in the tread area and no larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm). Under U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) guidelines, the tire must be removed from the wheel and repaired from the inside with a combination plug-and-patch. Punctures in the shoulder or sidewall cannot be repaired; the tire must be replaced.
Related guides
- Can My Tire Be Repaired? Puncture Repair Rules Explained — A puncture is repairable only in the tread and up to 1/4 inch, with a plug-and-patch from inside. Sidewall or shoulder damage means a new tire.
- Tire Pressure Light On? What the TPMS Warning Means and What to Do — A steady TPMS light means a tire is low; a flashing one means a system fault. How to check pressure, find the right psi and handle cold mornings.
- When to Replace Tires: Tread Depth, the Penny Test and California Law — California's legal minimum is 1/32 inch, but wet grip fades long before. The penny and quarter tests, wear bars and other reasons to replace.