Flat tire
Some tyres, particularly those with a slow leak, can be repaired and re-inflated; others, especially those with worn tread, must be replaced.
Where a flat tire occurs, drivers are advised to slow gradually and pull off the road.
On a bicycle, a flat tire will compromise handling, as well as increasing rolling resistance.
A UK source reports that flat tires account for about 10% of motor vehicle breakdowns.
Canned tire sealants are quick and simple to use and have the added benefit of working when the vehicle is in a dangerous location such as at the side of a busy highway, or on uneven ground.
The penetrating object is removed from the tire, and a plug coated in rubber cement then inserted with a handle, typically supplied with the kit.
The equipment needed to repair or replace a bicycle inner tube is comparatively minimal, and frequently carried by cyclists.
The CO2 cartridge is generally a single use item only while the pump can be used to inflate many flat tires.
Several methods exist to locate a small puncture, including submersion in water with dish soap, but without a bowl of water available, the simplest method may be to inflate the tube until air can be felt escaping from the puncture.
Racing bicycles frequently use tubular tires, which are glued to a special, flat wheel rim.
Another approach to preventing punctures in bicycle and other tires in general is the use of Slime, a proprietary brand of injectable liquid thick chemical goo.
[citation needed] Motorists stranded by a flat tire face a number of hazards.
[citation needed] Especially if the tire is on the side closer to the road, the motorist is at risk of getting hit by a passing car.
If the motorist is unable to pull over to a place where the tire being changed is on the opposite side from the moving traffic, he may be directly in the path of or just inches away from passing cars.
Even if some type of warning is placed on the road, a motorist not fully attentive may not be able to avoid the situation.
Some motorists, especially those with less physical strength, may risk injury while attempting to change a tire.
