A flat tire's driven distance should not exceed a few hundred feet. Most tire makers including Pirelli and Michelin recommend against a longer distance just to park your vehicle in a safe area! And while doing that, you should only be driving slowly, which is no faster than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Factors Affecting How Far You Can Drive On A Flat Tire
Several factors like the extent of the damage, the vehicle’s weight, the driving conditions, speed, and the type of tire influence the final distance. In addition, road surface is another factor that should be considered because driving on a smooth road versus driving on an aggressive terrain with a flat tire can make a huge difference. Driving on aggressive surfaces with a flat tire is likely to severely impact its integrity, so stopping within some 30-50 feet would be wise.
The distance can take a little longer to about 200-400 feet on paved asphalt until you reach a safe parking spot. The exception to this rule is the run-flat tires. These allow you to drive up to 50 miles in a flat condition since their construction stays in shape even after losing pressure.
A Flat Tire on Aggressive Terrains
Driving on aggressive terrain with a flat tire must not take longer than a few feet at most. The stopping distance should not take more than until you park the vehicle safely. Otherwise, you risk subjecting the tire to too much stress including severe damage to the wheel rim, complete tire destruction, potential accident, and loss of vehicle control.
Whenever facing a flat tire on rough terrain, the wisest thing is to change it on the spare tire, if you have one, or to call emergency assistance for help.
A Flat Tire On Smooth Road
The distance you can drive on a smooth road with a flat tire should not take more than 400 feet for safety reasons. This distance should be enough to drive the vehicle in an area safe from road traffic. In exceptional cases, the maximum distance could reach up to half a mile if the circumstances are critical. In such cases, it is essential to maintain a speed below 20 mph to minimize the impact on tire integrity.
Standard Flat Tire VS Run-Flat Tire
Standard tires have a different construction than run-flat tires. Respectively, the distance you can cover in a flat state is also different. While the distance with standard tires is pretty limited, run-flats give you the privilege to keep driving up to 50 miles.
This is because their internal construction remains intact even in the absence of pressure. However, even if you drive on such tires, you must limit the speed to 50 mph for safety reasons. Also, you should seek a technical inspection of the run-flat tire after these 50 miles for a potential tire replacement.
Flat Tire vs Vehicle Weight
The distance of a heavy vehicle such as a truck or an SUV with a flat tire should be even shorter than that of a passenger car. Thus, it should not roll more than 100-200 feet at a speed not exceeding 5 mph. This scenario is viable for paved roads exclusively.
In contrast, driving on rough terrain with a flat tire on a large SUV is not recommended at all. The reason is that the heavy weight of the vehicle is likely to cause severe and irreversible damage both to the tire and the rim at any distance. The flat tire causes uneven weight distribution of the vehicle, which causes severe and rapid damage.
Similarly, the extra weight is likely to affect the vehicle's internal parts severely. It's worth mentioning that all these consequences come accompanied by high safety risks as heavier vehicles are much harder to control, especially with a flat tire.
The wisest thing to do whenever a large vehicle gets a flat tire is to stop immediately and call for professional assistance if replacement on a spare tire is possible.
Flat Tire vs Vehicle Speed
Speed is a relevant factor in determining how far you can go with a flat tire. As a rule of thumb, the slower you drive on a flat tire, the more room there is for longer distances. Driving at a speed under 20 mph reduces stress on the tire, minimizes heat build-up, increases control over vehicle handling, and cuts the damage on the wheel rim.
Conversely, the speed higher than this threshold accelerates severe damage to the tire, increases friction, amplifies the risk of losing control, affects other components, and reduces the degree of safety.
You could technically drive up to 800 yards at a speed of up to 10 mph with a flat tire. The distance drops to a maximum of 200 yards at a speed of 20 mph. Likewise, the risk of immediate tire degradation is very likely at a speed of 30 mph and above.
A critical note to consider is that these estimations do not ensure complete safety. You should only consider them for absolute emergencies if an immediate stop is not possible for whatever reason.
How Far Can You Go With A Flat Tire in Summer?
The distance to drive on a standard flat tire in summer is between 0 and 600 feet maximum. It depends on how hot is the US area where you live and how urgent is the need to cover this distance.
If absolutely necessary, you should drive no more than 600 feet with a minimum speed not exceeding 15 mph. However, even this distance can be risky in extreme temperatures due to various factors such as tire-softened rubber, heat buildup, and expanded air.
For safety purposes, tire specialists recommend avoiding driving on a flat tire in states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and Missouri. These areas record extreme temperatures, which puts driving on a flat tire at any distance at risk.
In states with mild summers like Washington, California, and Oregon, driving on a flat tire at a minimal distance with a minimal speed might be accepted in emergency scenarios. Check below the states with the hottest and mildest summers across the US to estimate the driving distance allowed on a flat:
How Long Can You Drive On A Flat Tire In Winter?
You can technically drive on a flat tire a little longer in winter than in summer covering up to half a mile. Yet, it is still a risk that should be avoided if possible. If strongly necessary, the speed should not go beyond 20 mph to avoid strenuous impact on the tire.
While the risk of heat build-up is less likely due to colder temperatures, driving on a flat tire in winter still faces several challenges. These include less vehicle control on slippery surfaces, poorer traction because of the deflated tire, and longer braking distances. Studies and tests have shown that a flat tire can increase braking distance by as much as 20-50% or more, depending on the specific circumstances.
Considering those, the safest option is to pull over away from traffic and call for roadside assistance if tire replacement is not possible for some reason.
6 Consequences of Driving Too Far on a Flat Tire
Here's an overview of the 6 potential outcomes you could possibly face when driving too far on a flat tire:
Irreversible Tire Damage
The high friction and amplified heat buildup are likely to warp the tire's components. In addition, the whole tire's integrity can get completely destroyed with sidewalls shredding from the tire tread.
Suspension System Issues
Your suspension might undergo severe damage including strings, shocks, and struts. The stress on suspension components might lead to premature replacement while the wheel alignment can suffer critical deviations.
Wheel Rim Damage
Driving too far on a flat tire is likely to cause rim cracking, braking, or bending. Addressing this issue is often expensive as it requires complete rim replacement.
Loss of Vehicle Control
The vehicle becomes unstable because of the uneven weight distribution. Traction gets significantly poorer which can lead to unpredictable handling. Similarly, the steering response delays significantly especially during corners and at higher speeds.
Brake System Damage
The direct contact between the rim and brake rotors leads to severe damage to the latter. Similarly, the flailing tire makes the brake lines get too close to the wheel which would lead to serious impact.
Fuel Efficiency Reduction
The rolling resistance of a flat tire is significantly higher. The more you roll on it the more fuel burning.
Just so you know, the risks of driving too far on a flat tire do not justify the consequences. The safest and wisest option is to stop right away and call for assistance or replace the tire on the spare one.
What To Do If You Get a Flat Tire?
The safest and the wisest things to do when getting a flat tire include the following:
- Seek a safe place to pull over.
- Turn on your hazard lights to remain visible to other traffic participants.
- Replace the flat tire with a spare one, if possible.
- Call for road assistance if there is no spare tire or you can't make it on your own.
- Don't consider further driving on a flat tire as an option.
Always prioritize your safety and don't put yourself at risk by any incorrect decisions. According to NHTSA, statistics show that there have been 622 traffic fatalities caused by a tire-related crash in 2021. So, continuing driving on a flat tire is a matter of safety that you wouldn't want to assume. In addition, the National Institutes of Health says that the mortality rate of riding on a flat tire is close to 100% at speeds of more than 160 km/h. Therefore, adjusting speed and taking immediate measures when it happens is an essential safety step.
How Far Can You Drive on a Flat Tire: Conclusion
Most tire manufacturers and experts in this sector agree that driving on a flat tire should be avoided whenever possible. That's the safest option. A short distance up to 100 yards is generally accepted at very low speeds to reach safety. The more the driver rolls on a flat tire, the more the risks for the integrity of the vehicle, wheels, tire, and himself increase. Replacing the tire or calling for road assistance in such circumstances is the safest solution. Drive safe!
