A flat tyre or tyre blowout can happen at any time and quickly turn an ordinary drive into a stressful roadside situation. You might return to your parked car and discover a tyre has gone flat overnight, notice your tyre pressure warning while driving, or experience the sudden bang and loss of pressure associated with a tyre blowout.
While flat tyres and blowouts are different, they can share many of the same causes. Unfortunately, punctures, low tyre pressure, worn tread, damaged sidewalls, potholes and ageing tyres can all leave you stranded.
It’s beneficial to understand the common causes of flat tyres and tyre blowouts. Common warning signs can help you identify tyre problems before they become more serious.
If you do end up stranded with a flat or blown tyre, Road Angels can assist you via on-demand roadside tyre assistance. Provided you have a usable spare tyre, Road Angels will get you back on the road without needing an ongoing subscription or membership.
What’s the Difference Between a Flat Tyre and a Tyre Blowout?
A flat tyre occurs when your tyre loses enough air that it can no longer function correctly. Air loss can happen gradually due to a small puncture, leaking valve or similar problem. In some cases, you might not realise your tyre is losing pressure until you drive your vehicle or see a tyre pressure warning.
A tyre blowout can be much more sudden. Your tyre will rapidly lose pressure or suffer a significant structural failure. This can result in a loud bang and an noticeable change in the way your vehicle handles.
Both situations will result in your vehicle being undriveable and require a tyre change before you can safely continue your journey.
What Causes Flat Tyres and Tyre Blowouts?
1. Nails, Screws and Other Punctures
One of the most common causes of a flat tyre is a puncture.
Nails, screws, pieces of metal, glass and other sharp road debris can penetrate the tyre. Some punctures cause rapid air loss, while others create a slow leak that takes hours or days to become noticeable.
You might first notice that one tyre regularly needs more air than the others or that your tyre pressure monitoring system keeps displaying a warning.
If you suspect a puncture, have the tyre inspected rather than repeatedly inflating it.
2. Low Tyre Pressure
Driving with an underinflated tyre can create problems beyond simply reducing fuel efficiency.
When a tyre doesn’t contain enough air, its sidewalls flex more than intended. This can generate additional heat and place increased stress on the tyre’s internal structure.
A slow puncture may start as a simple flat tyre problem but potentially contribute to serious tyre damage if you continue driving on it. If your tyre becomes significantly damaged, you may have to replace it and this can be an expensive and inconvenient process.
The best advice is to regularly check your tyre pressure and follow the recommendations provided by your vehicle manufacturer.
3. Potholes and Road Hazards
Hitting a pothole, kerb or debris on the road can cause immediate and hidden tyre damage.
A severe impact may puncture the tyre, damage the sidewall and affect its structure. Sometimes your tyre will go flat immediately, while in other cases the damage becomes apparent later.
After a significant impact, inspect your tyre for cuts, bulges, cracks or unusual pressure loss.
4. Worn Tyres
Tyres naturally wear as kilometres accumulate.
As tread becomes excessively worn, tyres become more vulnerable to damage and provide less grip in wet conditions.
Uneven tyre wear can also indicate problems with tyre pressure, wheel alignment and suspension.
Checking your tyres regularly gives you an opportunity to replace them before they become unsafe and leave you stranded.
5. Damaged Tyre Valves
Not every flat tyre is caused by a hole in the tread.
A damaged or leaking tyre valve can cause air to slowly escape. This may result in a tyre that repeatedly loses pressure even though there is no obvious puncture.
If you find yourself continually adding air to the same tyre, it’s best to have it professionally inspected.
6. Sidewall Damage
Cuts, cracks, bulges and bubbles in the tyre sidewall should never be ignored.
A bulge can indicate damage to the tyre’s internal structure and may increase the risk of tyre failure.
Sidewall damage generally requires professional assessment and depending on the damage, potential tyre replacement.
7. Tyre Age
Tyres can deteriorate even when a vehicle isn’t driven frequently.
Over time, exposure to heat, sunlight, weather and environmental conditions can affect the rubber. Older tyres can develop cracking, hardening and other signs of deterioration.
Tyre condition matters just as much as tread depth so it’s best to keep an eye on it.
8. Overloading Your Vehicle
Every tyre is designed to carry a maximum load.
Carrying excessive weight places additional stress on your tyres and can increase heat generation, particularly during long journeys and highway driving.
Before a heavily loaded road trip, check your vehicle’s recommended load limits and tyre pressure requirements.
9. Incorrect Tyre Pressure
Both underinflation and excessive tyre pressure can negatively affect tyre performance.
Correct tyre pressure helps maintain appropriate handling, tyre wear and load capacity.
Check your tyres when appropriate and use the air pressure recommendations specified by your manufacturer.
10. Excessive Heat
Australian roads can become extremely hot, particularly during summer.
Tyres naturally heat up while driving, and factors such as underinflation, heavy loads, high speeds and long-distance travel can add further stress.
Keeping tyres properly inflated and in good condition is particularly important before long road trips.
Warning Signs of a Flat or Failing Tyre
Not every tyre problem gives you plenty of warning, but there are several signs worth paying attention to:
- A tyre pressure monitoring system and warning signs
- One tyre repeatedly losing pressure
- Vehicle pulling toward one side
- Unusual vibration while driving
- Visible nails, screws or foreign objects
- Cracks or cuts in the tyre
- Bulges or bubbles in the sidewall
- Excessive or uneven tread wear
- A tyre that appears visibly lower than the others
- Changes in steering or handling
If something feels different while driving, find a safe place to stop and inspect each tyre before you continue.
What Should You Do If You Get a Flat Tyre?
If you suspect a tyre is going flat while driving, reduce your speed and look for a safe place to stop.
Avoid sudden braking or aggressive steering. Once safely stopped, turn on your hazard lights and assess the situation.
If your tyre is completely flat, avoid continuing to drive and replace the tyre with your spare.
Road Angels provides fast and friendly flat tyre changes if you need help.
What Should You Do During a Tyre Blowout?
If your tyre suddenly fails while driving, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and keep your vehicle controlled. Avoid sudden steering movements or heavy braking.
Gradually reduce your speed and move to a safe stopping location when conditions allow.
Once stopped safely, turn on your hazard lights and organise roadside assistance if required.
Can You Drive With a Flat Tyre?
You should avoid continuing to drive on a completely flat tyre.
Driving on a flat tyre can cause additional damage to your wheel.
If you’re in an unsafe position, your first priority should be to find a safe stopping location. Once your vehicle is stationary, inspect the damage and request assistance if you need your tyre changed.
Need Someone to Change Your Flat Tyre?
Discovering a flat tyre is frustrating enough without having to work out how to change it on the side of the road.
You may not know how to correctly use the vehicle’s jack, the wheel nuts may be difficult to remove, or your vehicle may simply be stopped somewhere where attempting a DIY tyre change isn’t appropriate.
If your vehicle has a usable spare tyre, a qualified Road Angels technician can come to your location to inspect and change your tyre.
Flat Tyre Roadside Assistance Without a Membership
One of the biggest advantages of Road Angels is that you don’t need to maintain an annual roadside assistance subscription just in case you eventually get a flat tyre.
Road Angels provides on-demand roadside assistance for flat batteries, flat tyres, towing and fuel delivery without an ongoing membership.
When you need help, simply request assistance via Road Angels website >