Help guide
Can you drive on a flat tire?
Updated October 8, 2026
Only as far as it takes to get out of danger. A few hundred feet to a safe shoulder or a parking lot, at walking speed, is worth it. A few miles home is not.
Call (307) 365-2527How far can you drive on a flat tire?
As short as you can make it. There is no safe distance. Michelin says even a short distance driven on a completely flat tire can cause damage inside it. A tire that was driven flat has to come off the wheel and be checked inside before anyone repairs it. Often it has to be replaced.
The one time to keep rolling is when stopping would put you in danger, like in a live lane or on a bridge with no shoulder. Your safety is worth more than a tire. Slow down, turn your flashers on, and creep to the first safe place.
What happens if you drive on a flat tire
- The tire gets ruined. With no air, the sidewall folds and gets crushed between the wheel and the road. A nail hole that could have been repaired becomes a tire that has to be replaced.
- The wheel can get damaged. Once the tire is chewed up, the metal wheel is what hits the road.
- The car is harder to control. It pulls to one side and takes longer to stop.
Flat, or just low?
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tire looks a little soft, warning light is on | Drive slowly to an air pump if one is close, add air, and check for a nail. |
| Tire is clearly sagging but still has shape | Do not drive on it. Add air if you can, then get it looked at right where you are. |
| Tire is flat to the wheel | Stop. Put the spare on or call for help. |
What about run-flat tires?
Run-flats are built to hold the car up with no air for a short trip. Bridgestone says its run-flats can go up to 50 miles at up to 50 mph. Your owner's manual has the limit for your car. After that they need a shop, and many run-flats cannot be repaired once they have been driven with no air.
Not sure if you have them? Look for RFT, ROF, SSR or the words Run Flat on the side of the tire.
What to do instead of driving on it
- Get somewhere safe, as close as you can.
- Put the spare on, if you have one and a safe place to do it.
- No spare, or no safe spot? Have someone come to you. A tire tech can put your spare on, repair the tire if the hole is small, or bring a new one.
On a highway? Read what to do with a flat tire on the highway first.
Where these facts come from
Checked on October 8, 2026.
Related help
- Flat tire on the highway: what to do and who to callGet to the right shoulder, turn on your flashers, and stay buckled in unless it is unsafe. Here is what to do with a flat on the highway and who to call.
- Nail in your tire: can you drive on it, and can it be fixed?Found a nail in your tire? Leave it in, check the air, and look at where it went in. A nail in the tread can usually be repaired. One in the sidewall cannot.
- Tire changeYour flat comes off and your spare goes on.