What to do when you get a flat tire (the smart order)
A quick, safe checklist for when you blow a tire. What to do in the first 60 seconds, when to change it yourself vs. call for help, and the move that prevents a worse outcome.
First 60 seconds
When you feel a tire go (sudden pull to one side, thumping, vibration):
- 1. Don't slam the brakes. Ease off the gas and let the car decelerate naturally. Hard braking can pull you sideways with a flat front tire.
- Grip the wheel firmly with both hands. A blowout — especially up front — wants to yank the wheel to the side. Hold it straight.
- Signal and drift to the right shoulder. If you can, get to a stretch where the shoulder is wide enough to fully clear the lane. Highway exits and emergency pull-outs are ideal.
- Pull as far right as possible. Aim for a wider shoulder, away from traffic. Set the parking brake hard.
- Hazards on. Even in daylight.
Should you change it yourself?
Change it yourself if:
- You're on a wide, level shoulder away from traffic
- You have a usable spare (donut or full) that's inflated
- You have the jack and lug wrench (check the trunk — many newer cars don't include them)
- You know where the jack points are on your vehicle (check the owner's manual)
- It's daylight or you have a flashlight
Call for help instead if any of the above is "no," or if you're on a narrow highway shoulder, in heavy rain, or it's dark and you don't have reflective triangles. The risk of getting hit by passing traffic outweighs the convenience.
If you call for help
Tap Get help now and pick Tire change. We need to know:
- Your location (we use GPS but confirm the cross-street)
- Whether your spare is inflated (we can't bring you a new tire — we install the spare you have)
- Whether you have your wheel lock key (many cars have a special lug nut that won't come off without it — check the glove box)
Average tire-change dispatch in Sacramento metro is 18–25 minutes.
The move that saves the day
Once a year, find a Saturday and rotate your spare into your trunk's primary position. Make sure it's inflated to spec (usually 60 PSI for donuts, 32–35 PSI for full-size spares). Check the date code — tires older than 6 years are dry-rotted and unsafe even if they look fine.
This 5-minute check is the difference between a 25-minute wait and a 2-hour wait. Most flats happen on the spare you forgot to maintain.