If you drive a car, ride a bike, or even operate machines that use tires, you will get a puncture at some point.
The terrible experiences of having a flat tire range from the drama of having your tire deflating while driving at 100 on a dual carriageway to having a flat tire in the middle of nowhere at a very odd hour.
There are days you may be lucky enough to notice the flat tire before you begin your journey. However, you may not always get that lucky.
At best, punctures are a hassle, but at worst, they can be the most dangerous experience. It will take some time to get your punctured tire sorted, and it will cost you money.
Sometimes, you may be lucky to get a puncture that can easily be repaired and only cost you a small amount of money.
Still, punctures can often lead to irreparable damage to your tire and may cause you to replace the tire on the inner tube sooner than expected.
Below are a few tips on how you can avoid having a punctured tire
How to Prevent Tire Puncture?
1. Be Careful Where You Drive
The first step to preventing punctures is avoiding places where you know they are likely to occur.
Such areas include where there is debris on the road or construction sites.
You should also avoid driving over obvious dangers such as bits of metal, broken glass, or any item on the road that you cannot identify.
You may not have paid attention to where you position your car on the road, but that also is very important.
There are certain areas where dirt is more likely to build up; areas like hard shoulders, the center of the road, and close to curbs.
You can save yourself the trouble and protect your tires by ensuring that you avoid such areas, especially wherever you spot and accumulate debris.
2. Check Your Tread
Many drivers are in the habit of paying little or no attention to their tires until there is damage.
Tires that are worn out can get more punctures than tires that have good threads.
Always check your tires and change them before they reach the legal minimum.
3. Check Your Tire Pressures Often
Unlike tires running at the right pressure, both over-inflated and under-inflated tires are susceptible to puncture.
Things like bumps or potholes can easily damage an over-inflated tire, while an under-inflated tire will suffer more friction, which will cause it to wear out faster.
Check your tire pressure at least once a month to avoid either of the above scenarios.
4. Avoid Bumping Into the Curb
When trying to park against the curb, it is common to rub your tire along it as you attempt to get into place.
You need to take extra care because such friction can damage the sidewalls of your tire, weakening the structure and leading to punctures.
5. Always Watch the Road Ahead
Another major cause of tire punctures is driving without paying attention to potholes on the road. Always keep an eye out for potholes, especially in the dark.
A good driver should be able to anticipate the road ahead and avoid hitting potholes where possible.
6. Do Not Overload Your Vehicle
Every car has a maximum load rating. While for some people, this might not be an issue, always bear in mind that if you overload your car, you might get close to that rating or probably exceed it.
One of the cons of driving with an overloaded vehicle is that you put your tire under greater strain, and that will make it more susceptible to getting a puncture.
Punctures are always annoying, even if you drive a car that has run-flat tires.
The best run-flat tires can do for you is allow you to drive a short distance so you can safely get home or reach a place where you can get your puncture repaired.
7. Invest in a Tire Puncture Sealant
A lot of drivers do not know the importance of investing in tire puncture sealants.
We can’t blame them much because there is little or no awareness of how valuable a tire puncture sealant can be.
Worse still, not every country in the world has easy access to tire puncture sealants.
Tire puncture sealant usually comes in pressurized cans and with different brand names. One of the most commonly known brand names is Tire Armour.
A good tire puncture sealant can prevent punctures up to 15 mm in cars, bicycles, motorbikes, vans, and 4×4’s.
How Do Tire Sealants Work?
Whenever your tire has a puncture, what happens is that the air inside the tire attempts to leak out, and that forces the sealant into the hole.
Once the sealant can penetrate the wound, fillers, and fibers will interlock to form a permanent and flexible plug and prevent further loss of air.
Pros of Tire Puncture Sealants
Convenience is one of the most significant pros of using a tire puncture sealant.
Tire puncture sealant does not require you to stress much, all you are required to do is attach the nozzle of the sealant container to the tire valve system and apply the content into the tire.
What happens next is that the content will be spread to the puncture and ultimately seal it, allowing you to drive without bothering about removing the tire.
The beautiful part is that the entire process of an application takes only a minute or two.
People who are in a hurry or have a punctured tire in a dangerous place do not have to bother about getting out of their car to have their tire changed.
Even though tire puncture sealant removes your worries about having a punch tire, it is always best to have a spare tire in your car.
Even though you have applied a tire puncture sealant, it is always safe to get a traditional patch afterward and ensure the patch is gotten from a reputable tire servicing firm.
The Prices Are Reasonable
Considering the benefits of a tire puncture sealant, their prices are usually reasonable.
Feel free to share other tips and your experiences with a punctured tire in the comment section.
We look forward to hearing from you.
