There’s nothing quite like the unmistakable flapping sound of a flat tyre to put a real crimp on your day. As most drivers will know, punctures and blowouts have a tendency to happen only at the most inconvenient times.
Not that there’s a ‘good’ time for a flat tyre, but still – it’s the kind of thing that tends to happen when you could really do without it.
For a long list of reasons, you may find yourself tempted to continue driving with a flat tyre. You could be in a hazardous sport, or you may not be far from your destination, or you may be so incredibly late that you’ll stop at nothing to keep moving.
The question is – how far (if at all) can you drive safely with a flat tyre?
What Happens When Driving On Flat Tyres?
Two important factors come into play when driving on a flat tyre. The first of which is that the tyre in question no longer gives you any real traction on the road beneath, and therefore makes your car dangerous to drive. You’re literally looking at 25% of your car’s entire grip on the road being removed from the equation, massively increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Secondly, the rim beneath the tyre will quickly begin cutting into the material, causing further damage to the flat tyre. This could not only render the tyre irreparable but also cause significant damage to the rim itself. When the time comes to get your car repaired and back on the road, you could be looking at a potentially huge repair bill – far more than the cost of repairing a simple punctured tyre.
So, How Far Can You Drive On A Flat Tyre?
The distance it is safe to drive on a flat tyre is…no distance at all. Attempting to move a car even a short distance with a flat tyre put yourself and all other road users (and pedestrians) in the vicinity in danger. The further you drive on a flat tyre, the bigger the risk.
Even so, you could find yourself in harm’s way simply by driving a few extra yards, so it really isn’t worth doing so.
If the health and safety aspect wasn’t enough, it is also completely legal to take to the road with a car with tyres in an inadequate state of repair. This includes punctured, flat, damaged, or even tyres without enough pressure, which in all instances is enough to get you lumped with three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500.
However, if it is plainly obvious that you knew you had a punctured tyre and continued to drive your vehicle regardless, you could be busted for dangerous driving, and lose your licence entirely.
All good reasons to avoid driving on flat tyres, irrespective of how late you may be!
For more information on any of the services we provide or to discuss responsible car scrapping and recycling in more detail, contact a member of the team at Take My Scrap Car today.
