A blowout at highway speed is genuinely dangerous. A slow leak in a parking lot is an inconvenience. Both require you to know what to do. Here's the complete guide for every flat tire scenario.
Step 1: Control the Vehicle Safely
A sudden flat — especially a blowout — will cause your car to pull sharply toward the failed tire. The wrong reaction (slamming the brakes or yanking the wheel) can cause a rollover.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands and steer straight
- Ease off the accelerator gradually — do not brake hard
- Let the car slow naturally while you steer toward the shoulder
- Only apply gentle braking once you're below 30 mph
- Turn on hazard lights as soon as you're safe to do so
Step 2: Get Safely Off the Road
Pull as far right as possible — onto the shoulder, in a parking lot, or past a guardrail if available. It's acceptable to drive slowly on a flat for a short distance to reach a safe location. Damaging a rim is far less costly than stopping in a dangerous position.
On a highway: Don't stop in the travel lane or on a narrow shoulder. Drive to the next exit if you can safely crawl there. A damaged wheel is worth more than your life.
Step 3: Assess the Situation
Before deciding whether to change the tire yourself or call for help, check:
- Do you have a spare tire? (Some modern vehicles don't — they come with a tire inflator kit instead)
- Is the spare properly inflated? (Spares should be checked annually)
- Is the location safe enough to work? (Adequate shoulder width, good visibility, daylight)
- Do you have the jack and lug wrench? (In the trunk, under the cargo floor, or under the rear of some trucks)
Changing the Tire Yourself
- Chock the wheels: Place rocks or blocks against the tires not being changed to prevent rolling
- Loosen lug nuts first (while the tire is still on the ground) — counterclockwise, break them loose but don't remove
- Position the jack under the vehicle at the designated jack points (in your owner's manual) — never jack under a random body panel
- Raise the vehicle until the flat tire is 6 inches off the ground
- Remove lug nuts and the flat tire
- Mount the spare and hand-tighten lug nuts in a star pattern
- Lower the vehicle until the tire touches the ground
- Tighten lug nuts fully in star pattern (opposite pairs, not around the circle)
- Lower completely and remove jack
Compact Spare ("Donut") Limitations
If your spare is a compact temporary spare (smaller diameter, usually labeled "T-type"), it has strict limitations:
- Maximum speed: 50 mph
- Maximum distance: 50–70 miles
- Not for extended highway driving
- Do not use AWD or 4WD with a compact spare — disengage if possible
When You Don't Have a Spare
Many newer vehicles — especially EVs and luxury models — come without a spare tire. They include either a tire inflator kit (only works for small punctures) or rely on run-flat tires. In these cases:
- Use the inflator kit if the puncture is in the tread area and small enough
- Call roadside assistance for tire change service (they may have a spare that fits)
- Call a tow truck to transport to the nearest tire shop
When to Call for Towing Instead of Changing
- No spare tire available
- Sidewall damage or blowout (spare won't be a safe fix — get a new tire)
- Location is genuinely unsafe (narrow highway shoulder, night, heavy traffic)
- You're not physically able to safely change the tire
- Multiple tires are damaged