If you suspect a puncture while driving, pull over to the side of the road immediately and switch on both your hand brake and hazard lights to protect yourself and those on the road.
Examine your tyres carefully to locate any puncture holes – such as nails or screws. While punctures are unavoidable, you can reduce their risks by maintaining your tyres regularly.
1. Check the Pressure
Your car’s tyres should always be at the recommended pressure levels to maximize vehicle performance and safety on the road. Check them regularly to detect slow punctures before they become major repairs that put both you and other road users at risk.
One of the first telltale signs of a puncture is an unexpected drop in air pressure. Use a tire pressure gauge to monitor each car tyre’s air pressure against what your manufacturer recommends; this information should be available either in your vehicle handbook or as a sticker on its fuel cap. Furthermore, look out for objects embedded in your tire’s treads as well as cuts or leaks along its sidewalls;
2. Check the Tread
Tyre tread provides traction for driving on smooth roads while attenuating some of the shock associated with driving over bumpy surfaces. Tyres should be replaced once their tread depth reaches less than 2/32 inches deep.
There are various quick and simple methods available for measuring tread depth, such as the penny test or using an affordable tread gauge. Furthermore, most tyres feature built-in wear indicators in the form of small rubber lumps inside their grooves that indicate when new tires may be necessary if tread feels even with the indicator bar; otherwise it may be time for replacement tires when tread depth falls below 2/32 inches making your vehicle unsafe to drive on public roads. Regular checks of tread depth checks is one way of keeping tires in good condition.
3. Check the Inner Liner
Puncture holes allow air to escape, decreasing tire pressure and impacting handling, stability and braking abilities – potentially even leading to its complete flattening.
Investigating a tire puncture requires taking several steps, beginning with taking off the wheel and inflating to its maximum allowable pressure. A technician should swab or dip the tire into soapy water to inspect its surface and valve for signs of damage to its inner liner lining.
Industry guidelines recommend using a combination repair of rubber plug/stem and patch to stop air loss. Once injured, injuries should be reamed out and buffed before bonding a patch to it with vulcanizing cement.
4. Check the Rim
Just because a tyre has been punctured doesn’t guarantee repair; therefore it is vitally important that it undergoes careful examination, particularly near its rim area, for signs of nails, screws, glass fragments or mischievous neighbors lurking underneath – ready to cause further havoc if given the chance.
Slow leaks may develop as a result of separation between the tyre and its rim (known as ‘tyre bead’), making an impression in soapy water spraying or by placing bubbles inside your tire to test for leaks. An experienced tyre technician should be able to resolve these leaks; but prevention is always better!
5. Check the Lug Nuts
Tire manufacturers recommend tightening lug nuts to a specific torque for optimal tire performance and safety. Loose lug nuts could lead to your tire coming off in transit and creating serious safety hazards as well as vehicular damage.
Examine the punctured tyre for any objects that caused it, as well as to locate its leak. Listen for any hissing sounds that indicate where exactly the puncture occurs.
If the hole or tear is small enough, you can repair it using plug and sealant from your car puncture kit. Simply coat the plug with rubber cement (or another lubricant provided in your kit) before inserting it using an insertion tool into puncture hole.
6. Remove the Tyre
If the puncture is larger than 4mm, professional assistance should be sought immediately. Home kits only provide temporary solutions and may not detect internal damage that could lead to complete tyre failure and loss of control of the vehicle on the road.
Once positioned, safely pull over and locate the puncture site. Remove any sharp objects such as nails or screws before using a reamer included in your kit to bore out and smooth out the hole (this may seem counterintuitive but will ensure the plug bonds securely).
Inflate each space-saver tyre according to its recommended pressure as listed in your car handbook. Remember to only drive on it for short distances and conduct regular visual tyre checks.
7. Inflate the Tyre
Once a puncture occurs, its air will escape the tyre, potentially altering how your car handles and decreasing fuel efficiency. To protect yourself against this happening again it’s essential that tyre pressure be regularly checked – something which requires checking regularly in the first instance!
Utilizing a puncture repair kit will allow you to inflate the tyre without too much air loss and is readily available from most servos – this investment could prove worthwhile!
Locate the puncture by inspecting your tyre for signs of a hole, such as hissing noises or bubbles. Use the reamer tool included with your puncture repair kit to bore out the hole so the plug bonds more securely.
8. Repair the Puncture
Driving with a punctured tyre can be extremely hazardous and should be avoided at all costs. Not only will it impede stability and handling capabilities of your car, but it could cause irreparable damage to other components within it.
Punctures may not always be visible; nonetheless it is worth running your hands over the surface to check for abnormalities – particularly along the shoulder and sidewall areas, where objects often penetrate rubber.
Punctures should always be repaired by a trained professional; home puncture repair kits do not offer sufficient or safe solutions, thus necessitating professional assistance to avoid further damage and possible blowout. It’s best to seek assistance as quickly as possible to protect against further complications or possible blowout.
