Swift Towing — Fast, Reliable Towing When You Need It Most
Call +1 (613) 890-9008

Ottawa & surrounding areas

Flat Tire Repair

Flat tire at the roadside — a simple puncture repaired where it can be, or your spare installed safely off the traffic side with the wheel torqued properly.

Call +1 (613) 890-9008Request a Tow

Changing a tire in a parking lot is a nuisance. Changing one on the shoulder of a highway is genuinely dangerous. If you are anywhere near live traffic, do not do it yourself.

A simple puncture in the tread can often be repaired where the vehicle sits. A cut or bulging sidewall, a blowout, or a tire that has been driven on flat cannot, so the driver installs your spare instead, checks that it holds pressure, and torques the wheel properly. A wheel finger-tight or over-torqued with an impact gun is a wheel that comes loose or a stud that snaps later.

If the tire cannot be repaired and your spare is missing, flat, or the wheel is seized to the hub, the vehicle needs a tow instead. Compact spares are also speed- and distance-limited — the driver will tell you what yours allows.

Some newer vehicles ship with no spare at all, only a sealant kit. If that is your vehicle and the sidewall is damaged, sealant will not fix it and a tow is the only option.

What this covers

  • Roadside repair of simple tread punctures, where possible
  • Installation of your spare tire
  • Wheel torqued to specification
  • Pressure check on the installed spare
  • Conversion to a tow if the tire cannot be fixed or swapped

What happens when you call

  1. 1

    Get somewhere safer

    If the vehicle can move at low speed, get fully off the roadway first. Otherwise stay out of the vehicle and well away from traffic.

  2. 2

    Confirm you have a spare

    Check that the spare exists and holds air. Many newer vehicles carry only a sealant kit.

  3. 3

    Repair or change

    The driver repairs a simple puncture, or installs the spare and torques the wheel to specification.

  4. 4

    Know your limits

    Compact spares are speed- and distance-limited. Get the proper tire repaired or replaced promptly.

Questions about flat tire repair

How far can I drive on a compact spare?
Typically no more than 80 km/h and a limited distance — check the sticker on the spare itself. It is designed to get you to a tire shop, not to commute on.
What if I do not have a spare?
If the puncture can be repaired at the roadside, you may not need one. If it cannot, the vehicle needs to be towed to a tire shop — tell us in advance so the right truck is sent.
Can you repair the flat on the spot?
Often, if it is a simple puncture in the tread — tell the dispatcher what happened to the tire when you call. A damaged sidewall, a blowout, or a tire driven on flat cannot be safely repaired, so the driver installs your spare instead.

Related services

Call nowRequest