You need all the tires to be properly inflated and in good condition before you can move a car normally. Did you know that all the tires could get deflated if you abandon the vehicle in your garage for a longer duration? Moving a vehicle out of the garage when all four tires are flat will be a difficult task. Many people in this type of situation are confused about what they can do. Hence, they want to know what they can do.
It is possible to move a vehicle with four flat tires. Though it will cost you a few bucks, you can achieve your desire with ease. All you need to do is to know the weight of your vehicle and buy car dollies that are suitable for the weight. What are the processes involved? Are there any side effects? Read on for answers to this question.
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How to move a car with four flat tires using dollies
It has been stated earlier that you need to know the weight of your vehicle before you can use dollies to move a car in this condition.
All you need to do is to check the manual of the car for the gross weight of the vehicle or look for stickers on the driver’s side door. The weight of the car will determine the type of dollies you will buy. Below are the steps involved when you want to use dollies to move a car with four flat tires.
Buy vehicle dollies
Moving a car with four flat tires will be made easier with the use of dollies. In a situation where you do not have it at home, you should go to a nearby wheel shop and buy the dollies that are appropriate for the weight of your car.
Fix on car
Do not attempt to move the car in the condition until you have fixed the dollies on the car. You should carefully fix each dolly next to a tire.
Use a jack
The next thing you will do after you have fixed the dollies is to grab a jack and raise the vehicle. You should raise it to the point where the dollies will slide underneath the vehicle. You should do this for all four tires. Once you are sure that the dollies are now underneath the car, you can then lower the car and remove the jack.
Push the car
The dollies under the car will make it easy for you to move the car. All you need to do is to push the car to wherever you want.
Consequences of driving with a flat tire
The tire can get punctured and become flat anytime. Flat tires could be caused by the presence of sharp objects on the road, loss of pressure in the car, damage to the wheel, and other factors. The best thing you should do in such a situation is to fix the problem before you continue your journey. In a situation where you decide to continue your journey when the tire is flat, the following are some of the likely consequences. (Read Also:Will E46 Wheels Fit E90?Find Out Here!)
Total damage
A flat tire doesn’t mean that the tire is completely useless. What you do to the tire when it is flat will determine if the tire will still be useful. The truth is you are ruining the tire if you decide to continue your journey without fixing it. Moreover, the tire is not the only thing that will get damaged, the rim, wheel stud, lug nuts, fender, suspension, and other parts of the vehicle are also at risk.
Noise
The type of noise that you will hear when you start driving with a flat tire will be disturbing. You will hear loud noises until you get to your destination.
This is because the weight of the vehicle is no longer balanced, and the aluminum rim will start moving on road surfaces, and under other conditions. Apart from this, the car will start wobbling also. It will feel as if the car is drifting and maintaining a straight line will be difficult.
Additional expenses
Flat tires could be frustrating if you do not have a spare tire, repair kit, and other tools that are needed to replace flat tires. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you fix a flat tire before you continue your journey.
Doing this will not only be easier and cheaper, but it will also save time. If you decide to continue driving with a flat tire, you are incurring higher expenses. You will buy a new tire, a new rim, wheel stud, fix the fender, the suspension, and other parts that could get damaged.
Discomfort
The noise, wobbling, handling issues, slow driving, and many other things that will happen when you drive a vehicle with a flat tire will make you feel uncomfortable. You will likely get tired quickly if you have to do this for a longer duration.
Accident
If you do not care about what it will cost you to fix the problems, you should care about your safety. Controlling the vehicle will be difficult when you have a flat tire. This type of situation could lead to the undesirable. The car could be involved in an accident.
What do you do when you have a flat tire?
Flat tires can happen anytime, especially when the tires get punctured or air suddenly gets leaked from the tire. To avoid danger, you have to fix the problem. The following are some of the things you can do to fix a flat tire.
Pullover
If you are on the road when you have a flat tire, the first thing you should do is to reduce the speed of the vehicle and pull over to a safe location.
Inspect the problem
The next thing you should do after halting the car is to locate the affected tire and inspect it. If possible, you should check if the problem was caused by a leak or a puncture on the tire.
Use sealant
If you have sealant available in your car, you can apply it to the tire, and then continue your journey. If you do not have it, you can ask where you can get it around the vicinity, depending on the location where the issue happened.
Replace the affected tire
Some car owners do not believe in the use of sealant. Therefore, they have their spare tire in their vehicle. If you are one of those, it is time for some exercise. All you need to do is to get the spare tire, the jack, and other necessary tools. Replace the affected tire and you continue your journey.
Tow to a nearby workshop
One of the alternatives you can consider if you do not have a spare tire or sealant in your vehicle is to tow the car to a safe destination where a wheel specialist can fix the problem and you continue your journey.
You can call for a tow vehicle that will take you to a nearby wheel shop. Though some wheel specialists will volunteer to follow you to where the car is, it will be at an additional cost.
What can I do to avoid having a flat tire?
The truth is that flat tires can happen anytime. This is because the tire could get punctured so far you are driving on different road surfaces.
However, you can minimize the chances of it happening. The following are some of the things you can do to reduce the risk of experiencing flat tires.
Right size
If you use the wrong tire size for your vehicle, there is a high chance that you will experience a flat tire. The rim and the tire might not fit the way they ought to and this will lead to a loss of pressure.
Also, when you use the wrong tire size, the weight of the vehicle could be beyond the capacity of the tire. Hence, the tire will also leak air.
Proper air pressure
The pressure in the tire is also important if you want to avoid having a flat tire. You should regularly monitor the pressure and maintain the recommended pressure level.
Regular inspection
You could be stranded when you experience a flat tire on the road. To avoid such a situation, you should always inspect the tires.
Check for any sign of physical wear on the tire. If you have any issues with the tire, you should go to a wheel expert for a proper assessment and solution to the problem.
Balancing
The weight of the vehicle must be evenly balanced on all the tires. If not, one of the tires could be carrying excess weight. In such a situation, the tire could get flat when it gets overwhelmed.
Driving habit
Did you know that the way you drive the car could also lead to a flat tire? Reckless driving such as maintaining higher speed over speed bumps, potholes, and hard objects on the road could overwhelm the tire.
How To Move A Car With Four Flat Tires – Conclusion
You can move a vehicle with four flat tires but you shouldn’t drive a car with flat tires continuously. The tires will get ruined and it could affect other parts.
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.