Guide

Slow puncture: signs and what to do

A slow puncture lets air out over days or weeks instead of all at once. It is easy to ignore, and it ends as a flat tyre at the worst moment. The short answer: keep it pumped up, and have it looked at within days, not weeks.

Can you keep driving on it?

Not for long. An under-inflated tyre runs hot, wears quickly and grips poorly, and the damage to its sides can turn a repairable tyre into one that has to be replaced. Keep it pumped up and have it looked at within days.

Can it be repaired?

Often, yes. A small hole in the central part of the tread can usually be repaired. Damage to the side of the tyre or its outer edge cannot. A leaking valve is replaced, and a leaking rim seal can be cleaned and resealed.

The signs

One tyre needs topping up again and again while the others hold their pressure
The tyre pressure warning light keeps coming back
The car pulls gently to one side
One tyre looks lower than the rest when the car is parked

What causes one

A nail or screw in the tread, often still in place and partly sealing the hole
A worn or damaged valve
Corrosion on the wheel rim, which lets air creep past the edge of the tyre
Damage from a pothole or a kerb

If you would rather we came to you

We fit and repair tyres at the car, at home, at work or at the roadside, usually within 30 to 45 minutes of the call. You hear the price first. Call 07861 958044, any hour.