What To Do With a Flat Tyre: Step-by-Step UK Guide

A flat tyre is stressful — especially if it happens on a busy road or in the dark. This guide tells you exactly what to do, step by step, to stay safe and get moving again.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Pull Over Safely

If you feel the car pulling to one side, hear a rhythmic thumping, or your TPMS light comes on, slow down gradually. Don't brake suddenly. Indicate, find a safe place to stop — ideally off the road entirely. On a motorway, use the hard shoulder or, better, pull into a service station or slip road. Turn on your hazard lights immediately.

Step 2: Assess Your Safety

Before doing anything with the tyre, assess whether it's safe to exit the vehicle. On a motorway hard shoulder, get everyone out via the passenger side (away from traffic) and move behind the barrier if there is one. On a quiet residential street, the risk is much lower — but always be aware of traffic.

If you're on a motorway and feel unsafe, stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on and call for help. Your safety is more important than the tyre.

Step 3: Decide — Change It or Call for Help?

If you have a spare wheel, jack, and wheel brace — and you know how to use them — and the location is safe: You can change it yourself. Make sure the car is on firm, flat ground, the handbrake is on, and passengers are clear of the vehicle.

If you have run-flat tyres: Check the TPMS for the affected tyre. If the system confirms a flat, you can drive at up to 50 mph for approximately 50 miles to reach a safe location or tyre fitter.

If you don't have a spare, can't change it safely, or are unsure: Call 0208 079 1031. Our emergency mobile tyre service will come to your exact location and either repair or replace the tyre on the spot.

Step 4: If Changing It Yourself

1. Apply the handbrake and leave the car in gear (or Park for automatics).
2. Place wheel chocks or bricks behind the diagonally opposite wheel.
3. Loosen the wheel nuts half a turn before jacking the car up (they're much easier to loosen with the wheel on the ground).
4. Position the jack on the correct jacking point (check your handbook — using the wrong point can damage the body).
5. Raise the vehicle until the flat tyre is just off the ground.
6. Remove the wheel nuts fully and remove the flat tyre.
7. Mount the spare wheel, hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern.
8. Lower the vehicle, then fully tighten the nuts with the wheel brace. Torque them properly as soon as possible.
9. Check the spare tyre's pressure — spare tyres often lose pressure in the boot over time.

Step 5: After the Emergency

If you've fitted a space-saver spare, remember: these are limited to 50 mph and should be driven on for as short a distance as possible. They're a temporary solution. Get a proper replacement fitted as soon as you can — ideally the same day.

If your tyre was repaired roadside, have the repair inspected at your next opportunity to confirm it meets British Standard BSAU 159.