CompareGuru | Compare Insurance Quotes OnlineCompare Insurance, Car Insurance Quotes, Funeral Cover Quotes, Life Insurance Quotes, MotorVAPS Quotes, Budget Insurance, Insurance Quotes, CompareGuru, South Africa.
Car and Household
Commercial Insurance
Funeral
Medical
Pet Insurance
Wills
Car Insurance
Cover your vehicle
More Information
Get Quote
Home Insurance
Cover your home and everything in it
More Information
Get Quote
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
Protect vehicles and drivers used in the day-to-day operation of your business against risks like financial loss, damage or personal injury.
More Information
Get Quote
Commercial Insurance
Provide cover against common risks and disruptions to business operations, such as theft, damage to property, employee / client injury and much more.
More Information
Get Quote
Directors and Officers Liability
Safeguard your business and key players from financial loss with the right policy.
More Information
Get Quote
Errors and Omissions Liability
Covers your business and employees against claims of negligence, poor workmanship, and more.
More Information
Get Quote
Funeral
Protect your family financially and cover funeral expenses
More Information
Get Quote
Gap Cover
Cover yourself for unexpected medical costs
More Information
Get Quote
Health Insurance
Protect your family with affordable basic medical cover
More Information
Get Quote
Pet Insurance
Protect the whole family including your fur babies.
More Information
Get Quote
Apply For A Will
Get a Will drafted and cover the costs of dying.
More Information
Start Application
Menu
Home
About Us
Life Insurance Quote
Car Insurance Quote
Funeral Insurance Quote
Gap Cover Quote
Health Insurance Quote
Pet Insurance Quote
Extended Warranty Quote
Pre-Owned Warranty Quote
Scratch and Dent Quote
Tyre And Rim Quote
Apply For a Will
News Room
Meet The Team
Careers
Providers
Insurance
Car Insurance
Building Insurance
Household Contents Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Serious Illness Insurance
All Risk Insurance
Funeral Insurance
Gap Cover
Health Insurance
MotorVAPS Cover
Commercial Insurance
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
Errors and Omissions Liability Insurance
Money
Support
Contact Us
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Disclosures
Client Letter
POPI Act
CIM Policy
Complaint Escalation
TCF Form

News Room

Top Reasons For A Flat Tyre

A flat tyre always seems to come out of nowhere. In many cases, there isn't much we can do to stop them, but here are a few causes of flat tyres which we could be more aware, of and so, hopefully, avoid.

Here's a common scenario: you replace all four tyres on your car with brand new tyres, and two days later, you have a flat. There are few things more infuriating. And to make matters worse, it soon becomes apparent that the cause of the leak was due to the tyre being incorrectly mounted onto the rim. 

These things shouldn’t happen – but they do – and there are many other reasons why your tyre could run flat. 

In this article, we take a look at some of the more common reasons, as well as how to avoid them as best you can. Of course, it’s almost impossible to avoid them entirely, but understanding some of the causes of flat tyres could help you in the long run.
 

While You're Here: When Should You Replace Your Tyres?

Tyre Punctures

Even on a seemingly clear road, there’s always something just waiting to take the wind out of your sails. Hidden out there on the horizon are a multitude of nails, broken glass, screws, sharp rocks or stones – these could all cause a puncture that will slowly leak over time or worse, cause a blowout while you’re driving.

Of course, if you see debris in the road, don’t drive over it. Do your best to actively avoid driving through anything that could damage your tyres. Even something as seemingly harmless as an orange in the road could be packed full of nails. This is a favourite trick among hijackers all across South Africa. 

In most cases, whatever causes a puncture is usually something small. This means that, if you’re lucky, you won’t have to replace the tyre completely. Small enough punctures upon the shoulder can be fixed with just a tyre plug. You cannot, however, repair a puncture in the sidewall.

Of course, you’ll need to get this repair done as soon as possible and avoid driving on that deflated tyre at all costs. Continuing to put all that weight on a flat tyre could bend your rims, rupture the sidewalls and expand the initial puncture beyond repair.
 

Rough Roads

Many among of us know the feeling. You’re driving along and suddenly, you hit a pothole so hard that you end up driving the rest of the way home in stunned silence.

Every single motorist should know how to properly fit a spare tyre, and every single motorist should know all about proper tyre maintenance. With the state of some of the roads in South Africa, it could only be a matter of time before you hit a pothole and find yourself stranded.

One of the worst things you could do after incurring a flat is to limp your car along home or to the nearest service station. It’s far better to pull over to the side of the road where it’s safe and put your spare on. This way, you minimise the damage already done.

When it comes to hitting paving, ruts, bumps, potholes or an open manhole – hey, these things happen – the damage could be far more extensive than you know. You could bend your control arms, damage the suspension, bend the rims and drastically impact the vehicle’s handling.

Even if your tyres seem fine after a nasty bump, get it checked out by a professional. Until you do that, make sure to take caution while driving.
 

While You're Here: The Deadliest Roads In South Africa

Tyre Wear And Tear

We’ve spoken a little bit about the wear and tear of tyres and the warning signs you need to look out for. These warnings include bubbles, bulges or blisters in the sidewall, vibrations, worn tread, cracks, or corrosion due to UV overexposure. When they appear, a replacement is probably long overdue.

As we drive, the quality of our tyres degrade with time. We wear the tread away, and so the tyres become more and more susceptible to punctures.

It’s important to check your tyres frequently and inspect them for any problems. You can ensure an even spread of wear by rotating them around your car every now and then, and maintaining the correct alignment and air pressure goes a long way toward good tyre health.

The valve stem is something we also tend to overlook. The little rubber nozzle used to check your tyre pressure – or fill them – does become damaged over time. This could be due to dirt or corrosion or other wear with use. A small bit of dirt trapped inside of the valve could also cause the air to leak out, slowly but surely.

It’s good practice to check the state of these and also have them replaced before you need to.
 

From Comparison To Claims, CompareGuru Is Your One-Stop-Shop For All Things Insurance! Compare Today To See What We Can Do For You!

CompareGuru knows what's good - you'll never need another insurance comparison tool again!

Sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our latest tips on how to get the best out of your insurance, what insurance really means and how to avoid any pitfalls along the way.

CompareGuru has you covered.