Your tyres spend their whole life touching the road, so it’s unsurprising that they can pick up the odd puncture along the way.
If you do get a flat tyre, don’t panic – there are simple ways to deal with it safely and get back on the road.
Slime have been experts in puncture sealants for over thirty years, and their Smart Tyre Puncture Repair Kit is ideal if you’re faced with a flat tyre. It can temporarily seal the puncture so that you can safely travel to a garage for a proper repair.
How do I know if I’ve got a puncture in my tyre?
A flat tyre is usually easy to spot with your eyes, but what if you’re driving?
There are a few warning signs that could alert you to a punctured tyre while you’re on the move. These include:
- Difficulty steering or handling the car
- Excessive sway, shuddering or wobbling
- Pulling to one side
- A ticking or clacking noise (this could mean that something is embedded in your tyre)
If one or more of these symptoms develop rapidly, then you’ve probably got a puncture. However, the gradual onset of these symptoms may indicate a different tyre issue, such as a drop in tyre pressure, a leaky valve, or tyre misalignment.
If you’re concerned about the condition of your tyres, pop into your nearest Halfords garage where we can perform a Free Tyre Check to make sure that everything’s safe and functional.
Can I treat the puncture myself?
If you pick up a flat tyre whilst you’re driving, then you can temporarily repair it so that you can drive to your nearest garage for a permanent fix.
Thankfully, with the Slime Smart Tyre Repair Kit, this is a simple process. The easy-to-use repair kit gives you an alternative to a spare tyre, meaning you can patch up a puncture in under 15 minutes without removing the wheel.
In the kit, you’ll get:
- A bottle of Slime Emergency Tubeless Sealant to plug the puncture
- A tyre inflator that plugs directly into your car’s 12V accessory socket
To use it, remove the valve core with the included tool, squeeze the sealant into your tyre, replace the valve core, and reinflate the tyre.
The Slime sealant locates and instantly repairs punctures up to 6mm in diameter. Its water-based formula is environmentally friendly and easy to wash away. The tyre inflator can also be used for other inflatables and comes in a zippered bag for easy storage in your boot.
Can punctures be permanently repaired?
While extremely useful for getting you to a garage, the Slime Emergency Tubeless Sealant needs to be removed after 3 days or 100 miles, so it’s only a temporary measure.
Most punctures can be permanently repaired if the tyre is otherwise in good condition. A tyre puncture can usually be repaired if:
- The puncture is less than 6mm in diameter and located in the middle three-quarters of the tyre’s tread
- The tyre hasn’t had previous repairs
- There’s no damage to the sidewall or shoulders
- The tyre is in good condition with a tread depth of at least 1.6mm
A punctured tyre cannot normally be repaired if:
- The tread depth is below the legal limit of 1.6mm across the central 75% of the tyre
- The sidewall or outer tread is damaged
- The tyre tread is heavily worn or the rubber is cracked
- The tyre has been damaged by driving on it while flat
If any of these conditions apply, the tyre will need to be replaced.
If your tyre is suitable to be repaired, you can book our Puncture Repair service at your nearest Halfords garage to get you moving safely again. If you can’t get to a garage, or just want the convenience of not having to leave your house, let us come to you. Our Halfords Mobile Experts can repair your tyre at home or at work, at a time to suit you.
Our Experts can carry out a variety of car services to keep you moving, and you can check them out at Halfords.com.
Can run-flat tyres be repaired?
Run-flat tyres are designed to allow you to keep driving after a puncture for a limited distance and at a reduced speed. This is thanks to their reinforced construction, which helps support the weight of the vehicle even when the tyre has lost pressure.
This allows you to drive to a safe location or the nearest garage without needing to change the tyre at the roadside. Manufacturer guidelines will specify how far and how fast you can drive after a puncture, so it’s important to check these limits.
Many manufacturers recommend replacing run-flat tyres after a puncture. In some cases a repair may be possible following a professional inspection, but replacement is often considered the safest option.
What do I do if my tyre can’t be repaired?
If the damage is beyond repair, then it’s time for a new tyre.
Here at Halfords, we’re experts in fitting and maintaining tyres, with over 490 garages nationwide to get you moving again.
We stock a huge range of tyres, both premium and budget, to suit every make and model. To find the perfect fit for your car, simply enter your registration into our online tool to explore your options.
If you don’t fancy leaving the house for your new tyre, or need to fit it around your job, why not let us come to you at your home or workplace? Our Halfords Mobile Experts can replace your tyre at the office or right on your driveway, 7 days a week, so you can relax and let us do the hard work for you.
It’s also worth noting that it’s recommended that you replace tyres in pairs, as you’re more likely to maintain even wear and ensure a smoother and safer driving experience. So, if you’ve got another tyre that’s looking worse for wear or is nearing the end of its life, it might be worth replacing the two together.
Tyre sealants
You may already be familiar with puncture protection fluids used for bikes, but similar sealants are available for car tyres.
Slime’s range of tyre sealants offers an easy solution for dealing with punctures.
Post-puncture sealant kits
A post-puncture sealant like the one found in the Slime Smart Tyre Repair Kit is injected into your tyre after a puncture, to plug the hole and allow you to reinflate your tyre. This should give you enough time and mileage to get home or to the nearest garage for a repair.
Almost all new cars come with tyre repair kits like these rather than a spare wheel since it’s a quick and easy way to mend the puncture before you get to a garage. To make sure you’re never caught out on the road, it’s worth replacing this kit, or simply the sealant bottle, if you’ve had to use it (or if your original one has expired!)
The Slime Assist Car Tyre Sealant is ideal as it’s likely a lot cheaper than the manufacturers’ replacement, and e. It can be used with any tyre inflator, and you don’t even need to remove your tyre’s valve core – just connect the sealant’s hose to your tyre, and your inflator to the sealant bottle, and the air will push the slime straight into the tyre whilst reinflating it!
These sealants can be really useful to deal with the immediate problem of a puncture, but they’re not long-term solutions. You’ll need a permanent repair or replacement to keep on the road safely, so book in for a puncture repair or tyre replacement at your local Halfords garage or with our Mobile Experts for quality service you can rely on.
So, to deal with punctures quickly and efficiently, Slime and Halfords are a perfect partnership. You can find the range of Slime products online at Halfords.com, or in your local store.
For all things tyres, including maintenance tips, tyre legalities and more, you can check out our Tyres Help & Advice section on Halfords.com.
