day off work for flat tyre?

I was going to come on to say that most new cars aren't fitted with a spare or even a spacesaver as standard anymore, just a little tube of latex you spray into your tyre to get you to the nearest Kwik Fit or whatever (not that I've used them since they busted one of the wheelnut fastenings by overtightening it). It's a bit rubbish, really.

Sounds like your car is part of your work ?

If that's the case, it should be treated as an essential and have cover in place.

And if it's essential to your work, are you insured correctly ?

I bought my daughter a pump that would inflate her tyre if she had a flat somewhere, I think it plugs into the car lighter area? And I do recommend AutoAid - £64 per year for all types of breakdown, including Home Start.

If you can't get them repaired, they're not repairable 🤣

Absolute rubbish. Often they can be repaired but tyre fitters can’t be bothered to clean it up and would rather sell you a new tyre.

It's a shame he didn't teach you how to change the wheel as well, far easier than changing a tyre road side...

I learned this to my cost, although my tyre was pancake flat and the kit did work very well to get me home on Christmas Day

Do you know is the pump in the kit can be used to inflate a tyre without the "gunk"?

I know how to change a tyre, but with the modern way of tightening the nuts mechanically, I'm not strong enough to do it...and neither, is suspect are the majority of the population.

I've used my tyre repair kit and whilst it won't save you in all situations, imo it's far more likely to help a than a spare tyre is.

That said, once you use it the tyre can't be repaired, so if there's an option to get to a tyre repair place, I'd do that first.

In OP's situation, I'd call clients and explain, in the hope that at least some of them would offer a lift, or I'd walk, cycle or take a taxi.

To those people actually changing tyres by the side of the road, respect! I can change a wheel but that's another level!

bear in mind particularly if you have a heavier (electric) or higher engine power if you replace one tyre you should really replace the opposite one if they have not been changed v recently - and don't forget tracking. If they haven't been done for a few years check them all for tread as well. we have a heavier car and 4 tyres just cost us 650 and they were mid range ones

AA told us NOT to use the repair kit provider unless an extreme emergency. It damages the tyre and it can't then be repaired. We were told to blow it up best you can and drive carefully to a garage.

Get an air pump. For £20 you are no longer reliant on finding a service station if your tyre pressre goes down! https://www.amazon.co.uk/sspa/click?ie=UTF8&spc=MToyNzM4ODQzNTE4NTIwMjA4OjE3NTc2NjE4MjE6c3BfYXRmOjMwMDQ4NTk0MTYzMzYzMjo6MDo6&url=%2FWORKPRO-Inflator-Portable-Compressor-Cordless%2Fdp%2FB0BPF9LMHF%2Fref%3Dsr_1_5_sspa%3Fcrid%3D1V84ZYD05KRE%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YShmAT7wrytZr1ejdHUFZkzPzHC0I14iABW0K_KITqSeDT-UWJCZJF_715xVI19aArudamN21XHAa-fZH7JkvzhPIxDDH_fM2aFQf0u-tbTqOgUSoZyxfyGEyjD_E0AIFOA9TazsJGYJhHMcwoGfkVjAHtSUTIaYeYvuOw3_doz47its8F8AoOZV524hRGwDnX4m9Gz2fNe2O7_5ltSDtj0fbcEc5eqjUvbLE6znBoFFitzxB0mkiH_P7swFyszq-Hx_UHlNA6sliR0H96FJ4vPeOonqXDl2PU02mIkid2A.MDwxI0Eyt8DlTdbPiXYgIiJZKnUTodA1YHJqjSetgkA%26dib_tag%3Dse%26keywords%3Dair%2Bpump%26qid%3D1757661820%26sprefix%3Dair%2Bpump%252Caps%252C120%26sr%3D8-5-spons%26sp_csd%3Dd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY%26psc%3D1&aref=kLst3cdFWN&sp_cr=ZAZ

It is utterly ridiculous that these days cars don’t automatically come with a spare tyre. I have always bought one as an extra with cars I have owned. My father taught me how to change a tyre when I was 17 and learned to drive. All cars should have spare tyres as standard and we should learn how to change them.

It hadn't occurred to me that electric cars have no space for a spare AND are likely to be too heavy to safely lift with a standard jack. That makes it seem important to have a phone number of a tyre emergency service programmed into your phone.

I agree with the people saying not to panic because the warning light is on - if your tyre still looks inflated, even a little soft, you'll be safe to drive (slowly) to a tyre centre.

Get them checked regularly.

Can your students come to you?

You don't need a new tyre. You just need a puncture repaired.

And you will have a spare tyre, probably a space saver underneath your car if it's not in the boot. If you really haven't, then your car will have a puncture repair kit.

Phone and ask someone to come out and fix a puncture, not to fit a new tyre.

most tyre places you can just rock up and they’ll do it while you wait. It doesn’t take long. 20 minutes max

My sensor came on once when the weather turned colder, I thought I had a flat tyre but it was fine, it must have been a bit low and the cold sent it just below.

@tinofthetop The car I drive now is the first I've had with tyre pressure sensors. When the warning light came on (on the motorway) I panicked, thought of all sorts of terrible scenarios, came off at the next services and phoned DP. Of course, the tyres were fine - one of them had just lost a bit of pressure which I soon pumped up. In my old car I'd have driven around for months, quite happy and none the wiser. I'm ok with the sensors now - it's just a handy warning. I just wasn't used to things beeping and lighting up on the dashboard.

If it's been driven on flat or partially deflated it'll be fucked and not repairable. A tyre is the only thing that keeps your 1.3 tonne hunk of metal on the road, and people cheap out with repairs after driving on flats after their tyres integrity has been comprised. A puncture repair is only useful and safe if the car hasn't been driven whilst the tyre is deflated.

A decent tyre fitting shop will replace the tyre within a few hours, most can order what they don't have in stock and have them delivered same day, it doesn't have to be exactly the same size, most manufacturers use awkward sizes that tend to be more expensive.

Buy a spare wheel and brace kit.

There is no room for me to carry a spare tyre in my car. I have a no lip boot loading area, so flat and easy to get stuff in and out but under that where there would normally be a space to store extra stuff or a tyre I have a giant battery as it is a mild hybrid. My car came with that tyre repair sealant shit and I will never use it.

@cosmobrown If your car tyre still looks fine then before sensors you would drive that car. It seems like it may have a slow leak so you may be able to drive it somewhere if it isn't flat as a pancake. Just giving you options other than mobile tyre unit.

I guess it's a lesson for the future! If you rely on your car for work, at least get Home Start on your breakdown insurance.

I can change a tyre - provided that it's possible to remove the flat tyre without the help of machinery. The last time I successfully changed a tyre on my own, it was in a layby on the side of a dual carriageway, in the pouring rain, in the dark, about 15 years ago. I can definitely do it! The next time I needed to change a tyre, I was helped by a passing tyre fitter who saw me trying to stand on the tyre iron in the attempt to loosen the nuts (bolts? 🤷) because the damn things are screwed on so tight. Just having a spare, the tools, and the knowledge doesn't help if you don't have the strength.

We live fairly rural. Had a tyre blow after hitting one of the (many) potholes. Phoned a local mobile tyre fitter and he was there in an hour and did it on the side of the road. Try Facebook or google local mobile roadside tyre fitters.

Could you get a hire car until sorted?