A flat tire is stressful, but the first few decisions are simple, and they often decide whether the tire can be saved. Here is what we would do, how to tell what kind of flat you have, and when a puncture can be plugged.
We are Axl Roadside, a mobile roadside assistance business in Mountain View. We come to your vehicle, whether it is at home, at work, in a parking lot or on the roadside.
What should I do first when I get a flat tire?
Get to a safe spot, turn on your hazard lights and stop driving on the tire. If anyone is hurt or you are in danger, call 911 before anything else.
- Slow down gradually and steer to the nearest safe place, such as a parking lot, a wide shoulder or a quiet side street.
- Keep your hazard lights on.
- Park on level ground if you can, set the parking brake and turn the car off.
- Stand well clear of traffic while you wait.
Should I keep driving on a flat tire?
Only as far as you need to reach a safe place, and no farther. A tire that keeps rolling while it is flat gets squeezed between the wheel and the road, and that can damage the sidewall (the side of the tire) beyond repair.
This is how a simple nail in the tread turns into a tire that usually cannot be fixed. Driving on a flat can also damage the wheel.
How can I tell a slow leak from a flat tire?
A flat tire is visibly low or sagging, while a slow leak loses air gradually, over hours or days.
- A flat: the tire looks squashed against the ground, the car pulls to one side, or you hear a thumping sound as you drive.
- A slow leak: the tire pressure warning light comes on, the tire looks a little low, or you add air and find it low again a few days later.
A slow leak still deserves attention. A nail or screw in the tread is a common cause, and driving on a low tire can make the damage worse.
When can a flat tire be plugged?
A puncture can often be plugged when it is a nail or screw in the tread, which is the part of the tire that meets the road. We fix repairable punctures with a plug, right where your vehicle is parked.
When is a tire usually not repairable?
- Damage to the sidewall, such as a cut, a bulge or a puncture on the side of the tire.
- A large cut or tear, rather than a small hole from a nail or screw.
- A tire that was driven flat, because running without air can damage the inside of the tire in ways you cannot see from the outside.
You cannot always tell from a glance, so we look at the tire and tell you whether it can be plugged.
Plug or spare: how is it decided?
We look at the tire first. If the puncture is repairable, we plug it. If the tire cannot be repaired, we install your spare tire.
If your tire cannot be repaired and you have no spare, we can install a new tire where the car is parked. We also do not tow. If a car truly needs a tow, we tell you. Here is how to tell whether your car needs a tow.
Is it okay to drive on a spare tire?
Usually, as long as you stay within the spare’s own limits. Many spares are temporary ones, often called compact or space-saver spares, and they usually come with limits on speed and distance.
Those limits are printed on the spare or in your owner’s manual, so check them for your car. Spares can also lose air while they sit unused, so it is worth looking at yours from time to time.
What should I tell you when I call?
We need four things to send someone:
- Your name
- Your location, such as a street address, cross streets or the name of the parking lot
- Your vehicle’s year, make and model
- A short description of the problem
In that description, it helps to say whether the tire is completely flat or slowly losing air, whether you can see a nail or screw, and whether you have a spare. We tell you the cost for your situation when you call.
If your wheels have locking lug nuts, the wheel cannot come off without the special key, so it helps to know where yours is.
Can Freeway Service Patrol help with a flat?
Yes, if you are on a Bay Area freeway during peak travel hours. Freeway Service Patrol is free and can change a flat tire. It covers freeways only. To reach it, call 511 and say “Freeway Assist.”
If you are not on a freeway, or it is outside those hours, call us.
Where do you help with flat tires?
We serve Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Redwood City, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley, from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Need flat tire repair near you in Mountain View? Call or text Axl Roadside at (415) 712-4161, 7am to 8pm daily.
