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us Transport & mobility emergencies tire losing air slowly • slow leak tire • slow puncture tire • tire keeps going flat • low tire pressure • tpms light on • tire pressure dropping • nail in tire • valve stem leak • rim bead leak • no spare tire • don’t know who to call • roadside tire trouble • stuck with low tire • can i drive on it • find a tire shop • tow for flat tire • roadside assistance request • tire inflator sealant kit

What to do if…
you find a tyre is losing air slowly and you don’t know where to get help

Short answer

Get to a safe spot, inflate to the pressure on your driver-door placard, and treat it as “drive only to service”—then use roadside assistance or a tire shop before it worsens.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t keep driving at highway speed if steering feels off, the car pulls, or the tire looks visibly low.
  • Don’t inflate to the PSI printed on the tire sidewall—that’s not your vehicle’s recommended pressure.
  • Don’t rely on the TPMS light to catch small leaks immediately; it may not warn right away.
  • Don’t use a sealant kit as a permanent fix, and don’t forget to tell the tire shop if you used sealant.
  • Don’t stop in a travel lane or stand next to traffic to inspect—safety first.

What to do now

  1. Make a safe pause.
    Ease off the accelerator, avoid sharp inputs, turn on hazards, and pull into the nearest safer place (parking lot, rest area, gas station). If you can’t, use the widest shoulder available and keep yourself away from traffic.
  2. Do a quick “is it driveable to help?” check.
    Look for: a tire that’s very low, sidewall bulging, shredding, or an obvious object. If any of these are present, don’t drive—go to step 5.
  3. Inflate correctly (only to reach service).
    Inflate to the recommended cold PSI on the Tire and Loading Information label (usually inside the driver’s door jamb) or your owner’s manual. Recheck after a few minutes—if it drops quickly, stop and don’t continue.
  4. Pick the fastest place to get it fixed (without guessing).
    Go to the closest tire shop or auto service center you can reach safely and ask for a “leak check” (puncture, valve stem, and bead/rim seal). If it’s after hours or you can’t safely drive, look for mobile tire service or towing.
  5. If you don’t know who to call, use these “systems” (in this order).
    • Your auto insurance app/website (many have a roadside help button if your policy includes it).
    • AAA (they can change a flat if you have a usable spare, reinflate in some cases, or tow you to a nearby shop).
    • State/metro highway help programs (varies): some places have service patrols that can assist with minor issues or move you to safety. 511 is a nationwide travel-information number, and in some regions it can route you to local traveler info (and sometimes service-patrol details), but it is not a guaranteed roadside-assistance line everywhere.
      Examples (availability varies): California Freeway Service Patrol in some metro areas; Florida Road Rangers (often reachable by dialing *347 in Florida).
    • If you’re in immediate danger (stuck in a live lane, near a crash, can’t get safe): call 911.
  6. When help arrives or you reach a shop, say the key facts clearly.
    “Slow leak, how long it takes to lose air, whether I topped it up today, whether TPMS came on, and whether I used sealant.”
  7. If you must wait, do it deliberately.
    Hazards on, stay visible, keep away from traffic, keep your phone charged, and share your location with someone you trust.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide right now whether you need a new tire—first get a proper leak check.
  • You don’t need to figure out the exact cause yourself (nail vs valve vs rim); that’s what the shop will confirm.
  • You don’t need to do anything special with warning lights right now—address the leak first.

Important reassurance

A slow leak is common and usually straightforward for a tire shop to diagnose. The main risk comes from trying to “make do” and having the tire suddenly lose more air at speed.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance to stabilize the situation and connect you to help. Tire repairability depends on where the damage is and the tire’s condition.

Important note

This is general information, not mechanical or legal advice. If you can’t keep yourself safe where you are, prioritize moving to safety and calling professional help.

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