A flat tyre always seems to happen at the worst moment. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes keeps you safe and can save the tyre.
At Saeedi Pro we deal with punctures every day, at our centres and at the roadside. Here are the safe steps after a flat tyre in Dubai, how to tell if a puncture is repairable, and when a mobile service is easier.
Quick Answer: If you get a flat tyre in Dubai, slow down gently, move off the road to a safe spot, switch on your hazard lights and use your warning triangle. Do not keep driving on it. A small puncture in the central tread can often be repaired; sidewall or shoulder damage means a new tyre.
- Get off the road safely first, then think about the tyre.
- Driving on a flat tyre can ruin a tyre that could have been repaired.
- Small punctures in the central tread are often repairable; sidewall damage is not.
- A mobile tyre service can come to you if changing the wheel is unsafe or impractical.
What should you do straight after a flat tyre?
Hold the wheel firmly, ease off, avoid harsh braking and steer smoothly to a safe place away from traffic. A car park or side road beats a narrow hard shoulder.
Once you have stopped, switch on your hazard lights. Abu Dhabi Police road safety advice reminds motorists to stop off the road and not to neglect their hazard lights and reflector. On a busy road, get everyone out on the side away from traffic.
Can you keep driving on a flat tyre?
No, apart from crawling a very short distance to get somewhere safe. Pirelli’s tyre puncture repair guidance states plainly that it is not safe to drive with a flat tyre, and that doing so can damage the wheel and other parts.
A tyre driven flat can be crushed from the inside, and then even a small nail hole can no longer be repaired. Stopping early often turns a replacement into a simple repair. Run-flat tyres are the exception, as they are designed to keep going for a limited distance within the maker’s limits.
Can a punctured tyre be repaired?
Often, yes, if the damage is in the right place and small enough. Pirelli explains that the British Standard BS AU 159 sets the rules, allowing repairs only in the central part of the tread, with a maximum puncture diameter of 6mm. Michelin’s tyre repair advice adds that shoulder punctures cannot be repaired, and that a tyre damaged by running flat is too weak to repair even if the hole is in the tread.
| Type of damage | Usually repairable? | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Nail or screw in the central tread, 6mm or smaller | Yes, after inspection | Remove the tyre, check inside and repair from within |
| Puncture near the edge of the tread or on the shoulder | No | Replace the tyre |
| Cut, bulge or hole in the sidewall | No | Replace the tyre |
| Tyre driven flat for some distance | Often not, as the inside may be damaged | Inspect inside, usually replace |
| Hole larger than 6mm or a long cut | No | Replace the tyre |
Michelin also notes that a sealant or plug kit can only ever be a temporary fix, because nobody has checked the inside of the tyre. Use one to reach safety, then have the tyre inspected.
What if the tyre cannot be repaired?
If the damage is on the shoulder or sidewall, or the tyre has been driven flat, it needs replacing. Our recommended replacement is NEXEN Tire, the Korean brand that supplies original equipment tyres to car makers such as Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. NEXEN Tire tyres are GSO certified, and at Saeedi Pro they carry a 2-year manufacturing warranty.
Ideally, match the new tyre to the one on the same axle, or replace the pair if the other tyre is worn or old.
Should you change the wheel yourself?
If you are somewhere safe, have a usable spare and know what you are doing, fitting the spare is a perfectly good option. Our step-by-step guide on how to change a flat tyre walks you through it.
It is not always sensible, though. Hot tarmac in summer is tiring, some cars carry only a repair kit, and a fast hard shoulder is no place to work.
When does a mobile tyre service make sense?
A mobile service makes the most sense when moving the car is unsafe or simply inconvenient. With mobile tyre repair in Dubai, a technician brings the tools to you to repair the puncture or fit a new tyre, which is tyre fitting at home without the trip to a workshop.
A full wheel alignment still needs a centre. If your car has a TPMS warning that stays on after the repair, we can check the sensor too.
Here is something worth knowing as a car owner. Every set of four tyres at Saeedi Pro comes with four services included at no extra cost: wheel balancing, wheel alignment, tyre rotation and nitrogen filling. That matters because a tyre is only as good as the way it is fitted and set up, and those four jobs are exactly what make a new tyre last and stay safe in the heat. It applies to every tyre brand we stock. You can see the current deals on our tyre offers page.
Looking for tyre puncture repair near you?
If you can drive safely on your spare, any of our tyre centres across the UAE can inspect the damaged tyre and tell you honestly whether it can be repaired. You can also see the full list of our tyre services in Dubai, from puncture repair to balancing and alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if I get a flat tyre in Dubai?
Slow down gently, move to a safe spot away from traffic, switch on your hazard lights and place your warning triangle. Then either fit the spare if it is safe to do so, or call a mobile tyre service to come to you.
Q: Can a punctured tyre be repaired?
Often, if the hole is in the central part of the tread and no larger than 6mm, and the tyre has not been driven flat. Punctures in the shoulder or sidewall cannot be safely repaired, so the tyre needs replacing.
Q: How far can I drive on a flat tyre?
Only as far as you need to reach a safe place, at very low speed. Driving further can damage the inside of the tyre and the wheel, turning a simple repair into a replacement. Run-flat tyres are designed to go further, within the maker’s limits.
Q: Is a tyre sealant kit a permanent fix?
No. Sealant and plug kits are a temporary way to reach a garage, because nobody has checked the inside of the tyre. Have the tyre removed and inspected by a professional as soon as you can, so it can be properly repaired or replaced.
Q: Can someone come and fix my tyre at home?
Yes. A mobile tyre service can come to your home, office or car park to repair a puncture or fit a new tyre. Call us with your location, car details and tyre size, and we will tell you how quickly we can reach you.
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