A punctured tyre can range from a slow loss of pressure to a sudden flat, and knowing what to do next can help you avoid further damage. This puncture repair guide explains common signs and causes, what you can safely do at the roadside, and when a professional repair or replacement may be needed.
Got a Puncture? Let Us Check Whether It Can Be Repaired
Not every punctured tyre needs replacing. Martins Tyres can inspect the damage and tell you whether a safe puncture repair is possible or whether the tyre needs replacing.
What Is a Puncture Repair?
A puncture repair involves repairing damage that has allowed air to escape from a tyre. Nails and screws are common causes, but air loss can also result from other forms of tyre or valve damage.
Whether a tyre can be repaired depends on factors including the location and extent of the damage and the overall condition of the tyre. A permanent repair should only be carried out after the tyre has been properly inspected.
For professional assessment, see our tyre puncture repair service.
Common Causes of Tyre Punctures
Nails, Screws and Sharp Objects
Nails, screws, glass and other sharp debris can penetrate the tread and allow air to escape. Some objects remain lodged in the tyre, causing a gradual leak rather than an immediate flat.
If you notice an object embedded in your tyre, avoid pulling it out unless you are in a safe place and know how you will deal with the resulting air loss. Have the tyre inspected to determine whether it can be repaired.
Road Debris and Impact Damage
Potholes, kerbs and road debris can also damage tyres. In some cases, an impact may cause damage that cannot be seen clearly from outside the tyre.
If you have recently hit a pothole or kerb and notice pressure loss, vibration or visible damage, Martins Tyres also offers a free tyre and air pressure check.
Types of Tyre Punctures and Damage
Tread Punctures
A nail or screw through the tread is one of the most common punctures. Some tread-area punctures can be permanently repaired, provided the damage falls within the permitted repair area and the tyre is otherwise suitable for repair.
Sidewall or Shoulder Damage
Damage around the sidewall or shoulder needs careful professional assessment. These areas flex significantly during driving, and ordinary minor puncture repairs are not suitable for damage outside the permitted repair zone.
Slow Punctures
A slow puncture allows pressure to escape gradually. You may notice that one tyre repeatedly requires more air than the others or that your TPMS warning light keeps returning.
If you regularly need to reinflate the same tyre, have it inspected rather than continuing to top it up indefinitely.
Signs You May Have a Tyre Puncture
Possible signs include:
- An object embedded in the tread: A nail or screw may remain in place while allowing air to escape slowly.
- Repeated loss of tyre pressure: One tyre needing frequent inflation can indicate a puncture, leaking valve or another problem.
- TPMS warning light: A pressure warning may indicate that one or more tyres have lost pressure.
- Changes in handling: Pulling, vibration or unusual steering behaviour should be investigated rather than assumed to be a puncture.
- Visible tyre damage: Cuts, bulges or other damage should be professionally checked.
The Highway Code advises checking tyre pressures regularly when the tyres are cold. Read the Highway Code guidance on tyre maintenance.
How Can You Check for a Slow Puncture?
Check the Tyre Pressure
A pressure gauge can help identify whether a tyre is losing air over time. Compare the reading with the pressure specified by your vehicle manufacturer rather than using a generic PSI figure.
If you do not have a pressure gauge or are unsure what you are looking for, you can use Martins Tyres’ free tyre pressure check.
Look for Visible Damage
Check the tread and sidewall for nails, screws, cuts or bulges. Do not assume a tyre is safe simply because you cannot see the source of the leak; some damage only becomes clear after the tyre is removed from the wheel.
A soapy-water test can sometimes help identify an air leak by producing bubbles where air escapes, but it cannot tell you whether the tyre is safe or suitable for a permanent repair.
Slow Punctures
A slow puncture allows pressure to escape gradually. You may notice that one tyre repeatedly requires more air than the others or that your TPMS warning light keeps returning.
If you regularly need to reinflate the same tyre, have it inspected rather than continuing to top it up indefinitely.
What Should I Do if I Get a Puncture on the Road?
If you notice a flat tyre or significant loss of pressure while driving, stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
The Highway Code recommends getting the vehicle to a place of relative safety where possible. If your vehicle is causing an obstruction, use your hazard warning lights and keep yourself and passengers away from moving traffic. You should only change or work on a tyre if you can do so without putting yourself or others at risk. See the Highway Code breakdown guidance.
If it is not safe to deal with the tyre yourself, call for breakdown assistance or professional help.
Temporary Puncture Repairs
Some vehicles include an emergency sealant or temporary repair kit instead of a spare wheel. These products may allow limited onward travel when used according to the vehicle or repair-kit manufacturer’s instructions.
However, temporary sealants and externally inserted emergency plugs should not be treated as permanent puncture repairs. The current British Standard specifically distinguishes these temporary measures from permanent tyre repair. See BS AU 159G:2013 from BSI.
After using an emergency repair product, have the tyre professionally inspected as soon as possible and follow any restrictions supplied with the kit.
How Is a Permanent Puncture Repair Carried Out?
A professional permanent repair begins by removing the tyre from the wheel so that both its internal and external condition can be inspected.
The technician then determines whether the damage falls within an acceptable repair area and whether there are other problems, such as internal damage caused by driving while the tyre was severely under-inflated.
Where the tyre is suitable for repair, an approved repair system is used to seal the penetration and restore air retention in accordance with recognised repair procedures.
Martins Tyres’ puncture repair service uses a combination plug-and-patch method where the tyre is suitable for repair. The tyre is removed from the wheel before repair and reinflated to the correct pressure afterwards.
Frequently Asked Puncture Repair Questions
When Should a Tyre Be Replaced Instead of Repaired?
Not every punctured tyre can be safely repaired. The technician needs to consider the location and size of the damage, the condition of the tyre and whether it has suffered secondary damage from being driven while flat or severely under-inflated.
For standard minor repairs, the repairable section is concentrated around the central tread area. Damage outside the permitted repair area, excessive damage, inadequate tread depth, internal deterioration or other structural problems may mean that a normal puncture repair is not suitable.
The current specification for repairs to road-going vehicle tyres is BS AU 159G:2013.
You can also read our guide to tyre repair or replacement for a closer look at how that decision is made.
Can I Drive With a Puncture?
If a tyre is flat, the Highway Code advises stopping as soon as it is safe to do so. Continuing to drive on a deflated tyre can cause additional damage and may make a tyre that could otherwise have been repairable unsuitable for repair.
If the tyre is losing pressure slowly, do not simply continue driving indefinitely. Have the cause identified and repaired as soon as possible.
How Much Does Professional Puncture Repair Cost?
Puncture repair costs vary depending on the damage, tyre and type of service required. Rather than relying on the previous £10–£25 estimate, see our current guide to puncture repair costs in the UK for up-to-date guidance.
Get Professional Help With a Punctured Tyre
Knowing the signs of a puncture and what to do when one occurs can help you avoid unnecessary tyre damage. Temporary repair products may help in some situations, but a permanent puncture repair requires the tyre to be properly inspected to establish whether repair is safe.
If you have a slow puncture, nail in your tyre or unexpected pressure loss, visit Martins Tyres for an assessment. Explore our tyre services or go directly to our tyre puncture repairs page for more information.