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Driving on a flat tire is never advisable and you shouldn’t do that. However, there are scenarios where you’d be left with no option but to drive a few miles or kilometers with a flat tire. Well, if you find yourself in such a scenario, the best thing to do is to quickly find a safe place to pull over.
In this article, we will look at the various things you should expect when driving with a flat tire. It’s worth noting that a flat tire can cause rim damage if the deflated tire is continuously used to the point that it gets ruptured. Also, a flat tire can cause crankshaft damage and other damages too.
Can You Drive On a Flat Tire?
Yes, you can drive on a flat tire, but you have to drive at low speeds, and you shouldn’t drive long distances. There are several reasons why you got a flat tire; the commonest is that the tire could have been punctured by a sharp object on the pavement or the valve is faulty.
When you’re driving and your tire suddenly gets deflated, the car won’t stop abruptly, it’d keep driving. However, you’d notice that the car is somehow imbalanced and hydroplaning is no longer happening as usual.
When you experience these signs, it is expected that you reduce your speed and check your tires.
Can I Drive 1 Mile On a Flat Tire?
Actually, there is a general rule of thumb for driving with flat tires. The rule states that you shouldn’t drive at a speed more than 50 miles per hour (MPH), and you shouldn’t also drive more than 70 miles with a deflated tire. That said, depending on how bad/flat the tire is, you can still drive over 10 miles with it.
But even though this general rule exists, you shouldn’t abide 100% with it. Yes, this is because, if your car is carrying a heavy load when the tire went flat, you may not drive up to 1 mile before the tire could blow out, or be completely ruptured, leaving the rims exposed, and possibly cause expensive damages.
The best advice remains to find a safe place to park and re-inflate your tires before continuing your driving. If the tire is badly damaged that you cannot inflate it again, have it removed and replaced with the spare tire (which should always be in your trunk or a dedicated space depending on your car model).
Can I Drive a Flat Tire 2 Miles?
2 miles is still a short distance. If the flat tire is not already torn or badly damaged, it can keep you going for that number of miles, but you must be driving at low-speed.
More so, if you’re driving with a flat tire, you have to do all you can to avoid road bumps and potholes, as those things can escalate the tire condition, leaving you with more damage(s) that would cost you more money to fix.
Can You Drive a Short Distance On a Flat Tire?
Basically, yes, you can. If you just got a flat tire, you could still be able to drive the car over a short distance, let’s say 1 – 20 miles, or even more. But this is not advisable; you’re only putting your life at risk, as well as incurring expensive damages that may occur.
What Happens When You Drive With a Flat Tire?
A flat tire lacks sufficient air pressure to function as expected; thus, more pressure is placed on the metallic rim.
When the load and pressure are now resting on the rim, it’d make the car bend slightly and tilt to a corner, and if you keep driving in this condition, the rim will be damaged, and in some scenarios, an accident may occur.
Conclusion: Driving on a Flat Tire
Instead of driving on a flat tire, try to stop the car, inflate the flat tire(s), and continue your journey. However, if you check and the tire is already torn, quickly replace it with the spare tire; if you’ve got no spare tire, find roadside vulcanizers to help you with a tire you can manage in the meantime.
Driving a car with flat tires can be very dangerous; not only are you risking incurring expensive damages, but your life is also at risk.
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