How To Fix a Flat Tyre

A flat tyre can happen when you least expect it, and it’s always a frustrating experience, especially if you’re caught unprepared. The good news is that with a little know-how, you can fix a flat tyre safely and get back on the road. This guide will walk you through what to do, the tools you’ll need, step-by-step instructions, and when it’s best to call for help. By the end, you’ll feel more confident about fixing a flat, and you’ll know that help from Midas is always available if you need it.

What to Do First

Dealing with a flat tyre begins with safety. Before you even do anything, take steps to protect yourself and your passengers. Here’s what to do immediately after you notice a flat:

Pull Over to a Safe Location

When you realise a tyre is flat (you might feel the car pulling to one side or hear a flapping sound), slow down gradually, don’t slam the brakes or swerve. Coast slowly to a stop in as safe a spot as possible.

Use Hazard Signals

Turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers that you’re having an issue and moving slowly. Hazards will make you more visible. if you have a reflective safety triangle, set it up behind your car to further alert oncoming traffic (ideally 10-20 metres back in normal roads, more on high-speed roads).

Ensure Personal Safety

Your personal safety is top priority. If you have passengers, especially children, have them exit the vehicle and stand in a safe area away from the road (preferably behind a guard rail or up an embankment if available). Always be aware of traffic and never turn your back to oncoming cars if you can avoid it. At night, carrying a flashlight is important. The idea is to make yourself as visible as possible and to stay out of harm’s way while working on the tyre.

Tools You’ll Need to Fix a Flat

Before attempting to change a flat tyre, you’ll want to have the right equipment on hand. Most of these items come standard with many vehicles, usually stored in the boot (trunk) or under the cargo floor. Here’s what you’ll need:

Spare tyre

Car jack

Wheel brace (lug wrench)

Wheel chocks or blocks

Safety triangle & gloves (optional but recommended)

Vehicle owner’s manual

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Change a Flat Tyre

1. Loosen the Wheel Nuts (Lug Nuts) Slightly

Before lifting the car, it’s essential to break the resistance of the lug nuts while the wheel is still on the ground (this prevents the wheel from spinning). If your wheel has a hubcap covering the lug nuts, pry it off with the flat end of your wrench or a screwdriver. Fit the lug wrench onto each wheel nut and turn it counter-clockwise (lefty-loosey) about a half turn to loosen it. You may need to put some muscle into it – try using your foot to gently push down on the wrench if a nut is very tight. Do not remove the lug nuts completely yet just get them loose.

2. Position the Jack and Lift the Car

Locate the proper jacking point nearest the flat tyre (check your manual for the exact spot – it’s usually a reinforced part of the frame). Place the jack under the vehicle and double-check that it’s contacting metal (if your car has plastic trim or ground effects, ensure the jack head contacts the metal frame under it). Begin raising the jack slowly. Many scissor jacks use a rod or the lug wrench to crank; bottle jacks use a pump lever. Raise the car until the flat tyre is about 5-10 cm off the ground. You need enough clearance to remove the flat and put the spare on.

3. Remove the Lug Nuts and Flat Tyre

Now that the car is raised, finish unscrewing the lug nuts, remove them all and put them in a safe place. Once the nuts are off, grip the flat tyre with both hands and pull it straight toward you off the wheel studs. It might take a bit of wiggling if the wheel hub hole is snug. Be careful, the tyre could be dirty and possibly heavy. Set the flat tyre aside, laying it down flat so it doesn’t roll away.

4. Mount the Spare Tyre

Take your spare tyre and line up its holes with the wheel studs on the hub. Lift it and slide it onto the studs, pushing gently until it’s flush against the hub. Thread the lug nuts on with a few turns each. Important: make sure the spare tyre is oriented correctly. If it’s a temporary “donut” spare, it’s usually obvious how it mounts. If it’s a full-size tyre or a directional tyre, ensure that if there’s an “outside” or rotation direction marking, it’s correctly oriented (for a short drive on a spare, this isn’t critical, but it’s good practice). At this stage, finger-tighten the lug nuts as much as you can so the wheel is seated enough not to wobble.

5. Lower the Car & Tighten the Lug Nuts

Carefully lower the jack until the spare tyre touches the ground, the tyre should be firmly on the ground, so it won’t turn as you tighten the nuts, but the full weight of the car isn’t on the tyre. Take your lug wrench again and tighten each nut firmly in that same star/cross sequence. Put your body weight into the wrench, a solid pull until it feels very snug is good. Go over the nuts twice in the star pattern to double-check none are loose. Once done, you can now fully lower the jack the rest of the way and remove it from under the car.

When Can a Tyre Be Repaired vs. Replaced?

Whether you can repair a tyre (with a plug/patch by a professional) or need to replace it entirely depends on the type and location of the damage. Here are some general guidelines:

Punctures in the tread

Sidewall or shoulder damage is not repairable

Multiple punctures or large holes

Tyre was driven on while flat

General tyre condition

When to Call for Help (Don’t Risk It)

While changing a tyre is a handy skill, there are times when it’s safer to stop and call for help. If you’re pulled over in a dangerous location, don’t have the right tools or a usable spare, feel physically unsure, or you’re dealing with poor visibility due to traffic, weather or darkness, it’s simply not worth the risk. Trust your instincts, if the situation doesn’t feel safe, it probably isn’t. In these cases, calling roadside assistance or seeking professional help is the smartest move. Your safety always comes first.

How Midas Can Help You

Remember, companies like Midas are there to help beyond just in-store services. While Midas doesn’t offer roadside assistance, you can always call your local Midas for advice on what to do. They might direct you to the right service or tow, and of course, they can take care of the tyre once you get the car to them. The bottom line: Don’t risk your safety to change a tyre. If it’s not safe or you’re not comfortable, make the call.