What to Do When You Get a Flat Tyre: Step-by-Step Safety Guide

Getting a flat tyre is stressful, especially on unfamiliar roads or in poor weather. Staying calm and following the right steps keeps you and other road users safe. Here's what to do – and when to call for help.

Step 1: Get Safe Immediately

Your first priority is getting yourself and your vehicle to safety:

• Don't brake hard – gradually slow down, keeping the steering steady
• Turn on hazard lights immediately – warn other drivers you have a problem
• Pull off the road to a safe, level spot if possible
• Avoid stopping on curves or crests where you're hard to see
• On a motorway: Exit at a junction or use a service area if possible. The hard shoulder is a last resort – it's one of the most dangerous places to stop

Somerset-specific: Our rural lanes often have very limited safe stopping spots. If you can't find a layby, look for a field gateway or wide verge. Getting fully off the road is essential on narrow lanes.

Step 2: Assess Your Situation

Before deciding whether to change the tyre yourself, honestly assess:

• Is it safe? Consider traffic, lighting, weather, and road position
• Do you have a spare? Many modern cars don't – check before you need it
• Is the spare inflated? Spares can lose pressure sitting in the boot
• Do you have the right tools? Jack, wheel brace, and locking wheel nut key if fitted
• Are you physically able and confident? There's no shame in calling for help

Step 3A: Change It Yourself (If Safe and Confident)

If conditions are safe and you're confident, here's the correct procedure:

1. Apply the handbrake and put the car in gear (or Park for automatics)
2. Get everyone out of the vehicle and away from traffic – ideally behind a barrier
3. Place the warning triangle at least 45 metres behind the vehicle if you have one
4. Locate the spare, jack, and tools
5. Loosen the wheel nuts slightly before jacking (but don't remove them)
6. Position the jack at the correct jacking point (check your handbook)
7. Raise the vehicle until the flat tyre is just off the ground
8. Remove the wheel nuts and swap the wheels
9. Hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern
10. Lower the vehicle and fully tighten the nuts in a star pattern
11. Check the spare's pressure at your earliest opportunity

Step 3B: Call for Help (The Sensible Choice)

Don't take risks. Call for help if:

• You're on a motorway or fast road
• It's dark, raining, or you feel unsafe
• You don't have a spare or the right tools
• You're not confident changing a wheel
• You have mobility issues or physical limitations
• You're on a narrow Somerset lane with nowhere safe to work

Our 24-hour mobile service can attend anywhere in Somerset and fit a new tyre roadside. One call, and we'll sort it. Call 01934 440410.

After the Emergency

If you used a space-saver spare:

• Space savers typically have speed limits (usually 50mph)
• They have distance limits (usually 50-70 miles)
• Get a proper tyre fitted as soon as possible

If you had a puncture repaired:

• Check the repair is holding after a few days
• Monitor the tyre pressure for a week or so
• Not all punctures can be safely repaired – sidewall damage or large holes require replacement

Be Prepared

Before you need it, check:

• Do you have a spare tyre and is it inflated?
• Do you have a jack and wheel brace?
• Do you know where the jacking points are?
• Do you have a locking wheel nut key if your car has them?
• Do you have our number saved? 01934 440410

Learn about our 24/7 tyre callout service – we cover all of Somerset.