Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Driving on Flat Tyre

62 replies

nomdegrrr1 · 31/01/2023 15:17

Please don't shout at me.

The tyre pressure warning light has come on and my passenger side rear tyre looks very slightly softer than the others, as in, I've checked a few times and it's not obvious. The garage I have an appointment with tomorrow is, according to Google maps, 2.2 miles away.

I'm crazy to drive there, aren't I?

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 31/01/2023 16:52

I've never been able to find a way of telling what the pressure should be for tyres/car

Most cars have a sticker inside the front door well that’ll tell you this.

You’ll be fine to drive on a ‘slightly soft’ tyre. I don’t know why there’s so much angst? My car doesn’t tell me when a tyre is a bit soft, so I have a visual check every so often and top up if it looks like it needs to. If it was completely flat you’d be daft to - and if you’re this nervy about car stuff I recommend you get some RAC or AA cover.

SnoozyVanWinkle · 31/01/2023 16:55

If its slightly soft then you should go straight away rather than tomorrow as it might go flatter overnight.

It's really easy to inflate tyres once you know how to do it but there is no shame if nobody has ever taught you!

friskybivalves · 31/01/2023 16:59

Reugny · 31/01/2023 15:40

Even my push bike tyres didn't go bang when I accidentally over inflated them. I just had to let half the air out....

Show quote history

My push bike tyres - I blew the valve. Had to buy an expensive new tyre... And that was using a hand pump. It was a chastening experience.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Driving & parking General health
Plantlifeonmars · 31/01/2023 18:31

Inflating a tyre is really easy. Google the right tyre pressure e.g. tyre pressure Vauxhall Astra. Go to the petrol station air machine. Undo the little cap on the tyre. Put in £1 to give yourself plenty of time. Press the + or - symbol to get it to the right pressure number. Press the symbol that looks like a tyre. It will start blowing out air at this point. Attach it to the tyre (where you took off the little cap) until it reaches the right pressure. It'll beep to tell you to finish. Then replace the cap. Repeat for other. If it starts losing pressure at any point when filling it then you need to jiggle the nozzle slightly to make sure it's attached properly. If you get completely stuck, someone else at the petrol station would help I'm sure.

I'm also someone who can't rely on other people but it means you have to sort things out yourself. Most things are easily learnt.

HappyAsASandboy · 31/01/2023 18:59

If it just looks a bit less inflated than the other tyres then I'd drive it 2 miles to the garage. Just go slow and avoid pot holes!

I drove 6 miles to the garage with a nail in my tyre the other day because it wasn't deflating. All was well, and they plugged the tyre after pulling the nail, so no new tyre needed!

Pootl · 31/01/2023 19:10

nomdegrrr1 · 31/01/2023 15:17

Please don't shout at me.

The tyre pressure warning light has come on and my passenger side rear tyre looks very slightly softer than the others, as in, I've checked a few times and it's not obvious. The garage I have an appointment with tomorrow is, according to Google maps, 2.2 miles away.

I'm crazy to drive there, aren't I?

Sometimes mine comes on, on the motorway and I have no choice but to drive 20 miles to the next services! Of course it’s ok!

sanityisamyth · 31/01/2023 19:12

Soft or flat? There's a big difference! If it's pancaked, don't drive on it. Just change it for the spare/space saver. If it's soft, just drive to a petrol station and put some air in.

sanityisamyth · 31/01/2023 19:14

nomdegrrr1 · 31/01/2023 15:21

The garage is nearer than any petrol station, and realistically I wouldn't know how to inflate it.

There is a spare in the back, but we don't have a jack.

Find out what the tyre pressures should be for your make and model car (Google is your friend). Drive to petrol station. Park by air machine. Remove all 4 dust caps from the valves. Put in 50p or whatever it costs. Pull out the compressor. Push hard onto valve until machine beeps. Move to next tyre and repeat until all are correct pressure. Replace dust caps. Drive off.

Shade17 · 31/01/2023 19:14

I had to drive DD's car last year with one completely flat tire as it was so far gone my air pump didn't do anything!

Just checking, you had this tyre replaced right?

lljkk · 31/01/2023 19:15

on my local facebook, if you asked to borrow a footpump, someone would offer one. You could get the tyre pressure up yourself, until you can get to Argos & buy your own footpump

OneFrenchEgg · 31/01/2023 19:21

Mine comes on all the bloody time, I've been driving on it in emergencies and re inflating each day until I can get to the garage this week (all booked up) as it came up with a puncture warning recently.
I've had the sensors replaced once, no idea if it's them or the tyre.
Buy a portable tyre inflator - really easy to use and just find the numbers you need. Mine are in the log book (34 psi front and 31 psi back to give you an idea of what you are looking for) and then I just set that and inflate the tyres - it stops when they reach it.

KendrickLamaze · 31/01/2023 21:36

On the inside of one of your car doors it will say how much you are supposed to pump the tyre to. Do that.

2.2 miles won't kill you if it's not actually flat.

You need to learn how to do basic car tasks. They are big metal killing machines in the wrong hands. Don't be the wrong hands

New posts on this thread. Refresh page