Driving with a flat...?

[slackerinabox]

OK, so I thought I had a flat the other night while on the expressway and insisted on driving to the next exit before checking out the tire.. This got everyone in the car pissed but what's the big deal? I've heard too many stories of people getting plowed into while changing their flats on the expressway so I refused to pull over - could something really terrible happen if I'm driving less than 20MPH on the highway with a flat (with hazard lights and on the shoulder)? Suppose it's 20 miles to the nearest exit - will my car be seriously fvcked up or is it a safe thing to do? I'm partly paranoid becaue my brother in law's father was paralyzed after a drunk driver slammed into him while he was changing his tire on the expressway.

Oh yeah, my car didn't have a flat, just a little deflated... And I know it could really mess up the rims but I own a hyundai elantra with stock rims - not exaclty $2,000 rims on the thing..

 

[Yossarian451]

Some asshat could always hit you for going slow, but I would rather be in a car when they aren't paying attentin then be on the side of the road and exposed. I would do what you did, so tell everone in the car to shut up, or they can change the tire themselves or walk. Just how I would handle it.

 

[iamwiz82]

wait til that flat tire works it way off the rim and then you have a bigger repair bill. Not to mention the fact that you will have very little control of the car if you had to do an emergency braking or swerving manuever. Just get run flats if you are so worried about it.

 

[NutBucket]

I agree. I would much rather pull off the freeway then do it on the shoulder, especially at night.

 

[Quixfire]

The bigger problem here is driving on low or flat tire breaks down the sidewall of the tire. You can't see it because it happens inside the tire and will weaken it to the point where it could blow out just driving down the road.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
The bigger problem here is driving on low or flat tire breaks down the sidewall of the tire. You can't see it because it happens inside the tire and will weaken it to the point where it could blow out just driving down the road.

Are there any tips that I can follow to avoid this? I.E. drive X mphs until you get to an exist or something like that?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: Quixfire
The bigger problem here is driving on low or flat tire breaks down the sidewall of the tire. You can't see it because it happens inside the tire and will weaken it to the point where it could blow out just driving down the road.

Are there any tips that I can follow to avoid this? I.E. drive X mphs until you get to an exist or something like that?

Yes... don't drive on the tire when there's not enough air in it to support the sidewall. Otherwise, you WILL damage the tire.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: Quixfire
The bigger problem here is driving on low or flat tire breaks down the sidewall of the tire. You can't see it because it happens inside the tire and will weaken it to the point where it could blow out just driving down the road.

Are there any tips that I can follow to avoid this? I.E. drive X mphs until you get to an exist or something like that?

Yes... don't drive on the tire when there's not enough air in it to support the sidewall. Otherwise, you WILL damage the tire.

oh well, I'd rather replace the tire than run the risk of getting hit.. I mean, have you see new york drivers? Now imagine them at 1 in the morning on the expressway..