The Dangers of Slow Punctures

Have you ever walked to your car and spotted one of the tyres looking a little underinflated? Did you then get in the car and drive off? You may have a slow puncture, and you could be putting yourself and others in huge danger.

A slow puncture means that tyre grip diminishes while the chance of losing control increases, especially in tricky driving conditions caused by the weather. Even worse, the tyre could blow out altogether, resulting in a total loss of control.

This kind of puncture can be near-impossible to spot, but here’s a few ideas of what to look out for to catch one early:

• Low tyre pressure indicator lights up.
• One tyre looks slightly flatter than the rest.
• After parking for a period of time, the pressure in one tyre has decreased noticeably.
• There is a repetitive clicking sound every time debris, which might have lodged in your tyre, hits the surface of the road when driving.

As for repairing a slow puncture? Well, the obvious solution really is the best option -take it to a mechanic and let them do their job.

The mechanic may be able to patch it up straight away, or it might involve a full tyre change, but either way is better than what could happen if you were to leave the slow puncture any longer.

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