If you’ve ever walked out to your vehicle and noticed a flat tire, the temptation to “just make it a few miles down the road” can be strong. Maybe you’re close to home, a repair shop, or think you can pump it back up once you get to a gas station. However, driving on a flat tire—even for a short distance—can cause serious damage to your vehicle, pose a safety risk, and cost you far more than a simple tire replacement. Here’s why you should never drive around with a flat tire in Belleville, IL.
You’ll Likely Ruin the Tire Completely
Driving on a flat tire can lead to harm far beyond just the tire—it can impact multiple parts of your vehicle. If a tire is flat, it means it has lost most or all of its air pressure. Driving on a flat puts excessive pressure on the sidewalls, causing them to buckle under your car’s weight. Unlike the tread area, sidewalls aren’t designed to make contact with the road in Belleville, IL. The rubber and internal structure can quickly shred, rendering the tire beyond repair—even if the initial puncture was minor and patchable.
You Risk Damaging Your Wheel and Suspension
Driving on a flat tire puts more than just the rubber in jeopardy. The wheel (rim) itself can make direct contact with the pavement, especially if the tire is completely deflated. Even a few blocks of driving on a bare rim can bend, crack, or permanently damage it. In some cases, the impact can travel up through the suspension system, damaging components like struts, control arms, and wheel bearings. What started as a flat tire could quickly snowball into a repair bill in the hundreds or even thousands.
You Could Lose Control of the Vehicle
Safety is the biggest concern. A flat tire significantly reduces your control over the vehicle, especially at higher speeds or during turns. Steering can become erratic, braking distances increase, and the chances of skidding or hydroplaning go up—especially in wet or icy conditions. In extreme cases, the tire can detach from the rim entirely, leading to total loss of control and increasing the risk of a serious accident.
It Can Affect Your Fuel Economy and Alignment
Even if the car still moves with a flat, it’s doing so inefficiently. The extra drag of a flat tire forces the engine to work harder, reducing your fuel efficiency. Even worse, the added drag and uneven movement can disrupt your vehicle’s alignment. You might start noticing your steering wheel pulling to one side or uneven tire wear—all things that require more time and money to fix.
It’s Illegal in Some Areas and Could Void Insurance Claims
In many jurisdictions, knowingly driving on a flat tire may be considered negligent or even illegal. If an accident occurs and it’s determined that the flat tire contributed to it, your insurance company might deny the claim. Don’t take that risk.
If you live around Belleville, IL and are looking for a shop who repairs and sells new tires, call Rowan Tire & Auto Service today.
