Whether you’ve just noticed that your tire is flat or are trying to reinflate an old tire, you may be wondering if there’s anything in particular you should do differently, such as putting air in the tire yourself.
So, can you put air in a flat tire? If you’d like to find out, keep reading to see what I learned on this topic!
Can You Put Air in a Flat Tire?
You can put air in a flat tire if it’s been deflated, but if there’s a puncture, the tire won’t hold the air. Slow leaks will continue to leak as well, eventually leading to another flat tire. Usually, there’s no reason to fill up a flat tire unless it has been purposefully deflated.
For more information on filling up flat tires, as well as a few tricks if you’re having difficulties, keep reading below for more useful facts and tips!
Can I Inflate a Completely Flat Tire?
Being able to inflate a flat tire largely depends on why the tire was flat to begin with. For example, if there’s a large puncture in the tire, filling it back up with air probably won’t do anything, and you’ll simply end up with another flat tire.
However, if there’s a slow leak, then reinflating the tire will cause it to fill back up, though the air will slowly leave the tire overtime, and how quickly the air will leave depends on how fast the leak is.
If you find an older tire that has lost all its air, you’ll likely be able to reinflate it. However, you’ll also have to consider whether such an old tire is safe to use.
Generally, all tires are unsafe to use after about six years. However, if the tire was stored improperly, it may not actually last that long (for instance, those that are stored outside are often worn down much faster by UV rays).
With that said, tires that were simply deflated can easily be filled back up. Sometimes, you’ll need to press on the tire to prevent the valve from recessing. Otherwise, you may have trouble attaching the pump properly.
Usually, you’ll be able to inflate a flat tire without much of a problem as long as there isn’t a puncture.
Can I Drive on a Flat Tire to Get Air?
Typically, driving on a flat tire isn’t safe, and if your tire has no air at all, then driving on it can cause damage.
Additionally, you may not be able to fill the tire back up after driving on it with improper pressure.
Furthermore, driving on a flat tire is dangerous because the pressure isn’t high enough, and it won’t be able to get the proper grip.
As well, your tire won’t provide the same amount of control that a fully inflated tire would. In the end, this makes an accident much more likely.
However, if your tire has a slow leak, you may be able to drive on it for a bit. With that said, you should stop for a moment every few miles to check on the pressure, and if the tire ever becomes completely flat, you should stop driving on it.
As well, your tire won’t drive well with less pressure than suggested. Therefore, even a partially flat tire should be carefully driven on, otherwise, you may be at an increased risk of an accident.
How Do You Inflate a Flat Tire at Home?
Inflating a flat tire at home is slightly more difficult than inflating an already inflated tire. After all, the valve will often be recessed into the rubber, which will make it more difficult to inflate completely.
However, you can typically press on the area around the valve to hook the compressor onto it completely. Be sure to check the pressure as necessary, and if needed, push the needle at the center of the valve to let the air out.
However, you shouldn’t attempt to inflate a tire that’s damaged, as the punctured tire won’t hold air. However, it could potentially damage the tire more if you inflate it before repairing it.
How Do You Drive with a Flat Tire?
You shouldn’t try to drive with a flat tire at all, as there are several problems that can occur if you attempt to drive with a flat tire.
First off, you may damage the tire beyond repair, and even if it isn’t all that damaged, driving on it while flat will often cause more damage. As you might imagine, this may cause you to be unable to repair it completely.
Second, driving on a flat tire is very dangerous, because they don’t have grip or traction. Plus, they’re difficult to control and will act much differently than your other tires, which make accidents much more likely.
To learn more tires, you can also see our posts if you can plug a run-flat tire, how long can a car sit on flat tires, if you can drive on a flat tire, and how common are flat tires.
Conclusion
You can put air in a flat tire by hooking up an air compressor to the valve and filling it to the appropriate level.
In some cases, you may need to press on the tire around the valve to get the compressor tip connected correctly. However, if the tire is flat due to a puncture, there is little reason to refill it, as it will simply lose the air again.
No spare at all in newer cars is the most stupid thing I ever heard of!!!!!!!!