There is a very specific sound a tire makes when it gives up. A thump, a flap, and then the steering wheel starts pulling like the car has somewhere else it would rather be.
Here is how to handle a flat safely, when it is fine to change it yourself and when to let someone else get their knees dirty.
Short answer: If you get a flat tire on the road, slow down gradually, turn on your hazards and pull well off the road onto flat, solid ground. Change the tire only if you are far from traffic on level ground with a working spare and tools. On a busy highway shoulder, stay in the car and call for roadside help.
Step 1: Do Not Slam the Brakes
When a tire goes, the car may pull hard to one side. Hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas and let the car slow down gradually. Hard braking can make it harder to control.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Signal and move steadily to the right shoulder, or better, an exit ramp or parking lot.
- Avoid stopping on a curve, a hill crest or a bridge if you can keep rolling slowly.
- Stop on flat, solid ground, as far from traffic as possible.
- Put the car in park and set the parking brake.
Rolling slowly on a flat to reach a safer spot can damage the wheel, but your safety matters more than the rim.
Step 2: Change It Yourself or Call for Help?
Changing a tire is a useful skill, but where you are matters more than whether you know how.
| Situation | Change it yourself? |
|---|---|
| Parking lot or quiet side street, level ground | Yes, if you have a working spare and tools |
| Wide shoulder, far from traffic, in daylight | Maybe, if you feel confident |
| Narrow highway shoulder, or the flat is on the traffic side | No. Stay in the car and call |
| Soft ground, a hill or a curve | No. The jack can slip |
| No spare, a flat spare or a missing wheel lock key | No. You need a tow to a tire shop |
| Dark, heavy rain, or you feel unsafe | No. Call for help |
How to Change a Flat Tire Safely
If the spot is safe, here is the basic process. Your owner’s manual shows the correct jack points for your car.
- Set the parking brake and, if you have one, wedge the wheel diagonally opposite the flat.
- Loosen the lug nuts slightly while the tire is still on the ground.
- Place the jack at the correct jack point and raise the car until the flat clears the ground.
- Remove the lug nuts and the flat tire.
- Mount the spare and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
- Lower the car, then tighten the lug nuts fully in the same star pattern.
- Check the spare’s air pressure as soon as you can.
Most compact spares are not built for highway speeds or long trips. Check the sidewall or your manual for its limits, and get the flat repaired or replaced soon. The NHTSA tire safety guide covers tire care, pressure and recalls.
The Spare Tire Nobody Checks
Your spare has been riding in the trunk rent-free for years. Today, rent is due. Unfortunately, spares lose air just like regular tires, and plenty of drivers discover theirs is flat at the worst possible moment.
Check your spare’s pressure every few months, learn where the jack and lug wrench live, and find the wheel lock key if your car uses one. It is usually hiding in the glove box or under the trunk floor, like buried treasure. Some newer cars skip the spare entirely and include a tire inflator kit instead, so it is worth knowing which one you have.
How Our Flat Tire Service Works
Call (470) 227-8963 with your location and vehicle. Our flat tire change service usually costs $65 to $95 using your spare, confirmed before we dispatch.
No spare, or the spare is flat too? We tow your car to a tire shop or wherever you choose. Local tows start with an $85 to $125 hook-up fee plus $3 to $5 per mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive on a flat tire?
Only as far as you need to reach a safe spot, and slowly. Driving farther can ruin the wheel and make the car harder to control.
How far can I drive on a spare tire?
It depends on the spare. Compact spares usually have speed and distance limits printed on the sidewall or listed in your owner’s manual. Get the flat repaired or replaced as soon as you can.
What if I do not have a spare?
Many newer cars come with a tire inflator kit instead. If that will not fix it, call for a tow to a tire shop.
Should I change a tire on the highway shoulder?
Usually not if traffic is close. Stay in your car with your seat belt on and hazards flashing, and call for roadside help.
How much does a flat tire change cost in Canton?
Our flat tire change service usually costs $65 to $95 using your spare, confirmed before we dispatch.
Need Help in Canton, GA?
Time Strike Towing & Roadside provides 24/7 flat tire change service across Canton and the surrounding Cherokee County area, 24 hours a day. We give you an honest quote before we dispatch.
Related services: Roadside Assistance and Car Towing. See all towing and roadside services or our service areas.