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Getting a puncture while driving can be a real inconvenience, but the good news is that fixing it yourself is not as difficult as you might think. In this guide, we’ll take you through the process step-by-step, so you can get back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.
1. Find a Safe Place to Stop
If you feel your car losing control, try to pull over to a safe place as soon as possible. If you’re on a busy road, try to find a spot where you and your car won’t be a hazard to other drivers. Once you’ve stopped, turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists.
2. Check Your Tyre
Once you’ve found a safe spot to stop, it’s time to check your tyre. Look for any obvious signs of damage, such as a nail or screw sticking out of the tyre. If you can’t see anything, run your hand carefully over the tyre to feel for any sharp objects that might be embedded in the rubber.
3. Remove the Wheel
If you’ve found a puncture, the next step is to remove the wheel from your car. Use a wrench to loosen the nuts holding the wheel in place, but don’t remove them just yet. If you have a spare wheel, now is the time to get it out of the trunk.
4. Jack Up the Car
Before you can remove the wheel, you need to jack up the car. The jack points will be indicated in your car’s manual. Make sure the jack is positioned correctly and that the car is stable before lifting it up.
5. Remove the Wheel
Now that the car is lifted, you can remove the nuts holding the wheel in place and take off the wheel.
6. Find the Puncture
If you can’t immediately see the puncture, try inflating the tyre a little and listening for any hissing sounds. You can also use a bowl of soapy water to locate the puncture – bubbles will form where the air is escaping.
7. Clean the Puncture
Once you’ve found the puncture, clean the area around it with a cloth and some soapy water. This will help the patch adhere to the rubber.
8. Apply the Patch
Apply the patch to the puncture, making sure it’s centered over the hole. Smooth it down firmly, making sure there are no air bubbles underneath.
9. Reattach the Wheel
Reattach the wheel to the car, tightening the nuts by hand before using the wrench. Lower the car to the ground and use the wrench to fully tighten the nuts.
10. Check the Tyre Pressure
Finally, check the tyre pressure to make sure it’s at the correct level. You can find the recommended pressure in your car’s manual.
