According to tyre manufacturer Continental, the average driver has a punctured tyre at least once every five years, so its fair to say that some of you have probably already experienced a punctured tyre at some time during your driving career. With so much progress being made in tyre design many motorists may ask, is there a tyre available on the market that is puncture proof? Sadly, science has yet to progress that far (although fork lift trucks do have puncture proof tyres), so in the meantime drivers must either deal with punctures or find alternative ways to prevent them. We take a look at if there are any effective ways to prevent a tyre puncture.
Feeling flat?
There is one very easy way to attempt to prevent a puncture, and that is simply down to the way you drive. Those driver who read the road ahead are much less likely to puncture a tyre rather than those with tunnel vision. Its a cost-effective way of attempting to prevent punctures considering its free for starters! There are many potential hazards to tyres on the roads that could cause a puncture if ignored. Pot holes for example are a key contender in causing a puncture; driving over them at high speeds means that it puts unnecessary pressure on the tyre and can and will cause punctures. Drivers should also make a conscious decision to steer away from kerbs, broken glass or any other hazards on the roads. Its these kinds of things that will limit your tyre life even further. Driving in areas which had a great deal of debris can cause trouble for motorists, so its advise able to either steer clear of these areas or drive with caution.
If you have had a particular journey in which you believe their may have been potential to cause a puncture, its vital that you act upon it. Check your tyres for any cuts or bulges or for any objects that shouldn’t be there. Its better to do this immediately after the journey so you know if the tyre will go flat when you get back in the car. Its better safe than sorry! There are of course, many products present on the market which claim to “prevent a flat tyre”, the majority of which are sealants which will only act as a quick fix to a problem.
The best advice though to prevent a puncture is to always be prepared. Punctured tyres are one of those facts of life, so always carry a spare tyre and know how to change a flat tyre as it could save you a few hours by the roadside!