Flat tire on a New Jersey highway: what to do
Slow down gradually, get completely off the travel lanes, and do not change a tire on the traffic side of a highway. If the car is not well clear of traffic, wait in the car belted in and call for a tire change or a tow.
The short answer
Slow down gradually, get completely off the travel lanes, and do not change a tire on the traffic side of a highway. If the car is not well clear of traffic, wait in the car belted in and call for a tire change or a tow.
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Call nowWhen the tire goes
A blowout or fast leak feels like a sudden pull to one side, a thumping or a heavy, wandering steering wheel. Hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas and do not brake hard. Let the car slow down, signal and steer to the right shoulder or the next exit. Driving a short distance on a flat to reach a safer spot is worth a ruined tire; a tire is cheaper than a crash.
On roads like Routes 1 & 9, Route 22 and I-78, the shoulder can be narrow and the traffic heavy. If an exit, a gas station or a parking lot is close, it is often better to crawl there slowly with the hazards on than to stop on a tight shoulder.
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Call nowShould you change it yourself?
If the flat is on the side away from traffic, the ground is level and firm, and you are in a lot or well off the road, changing it yourself is reasonable. Set the parking brake, use the jack point shown in the owner's manual, and loosen the lug nuts before lifting the car.
If the flat is on the traffic side of a highway, or the shoulder is narrow, sloped or soft, do not do it. Kneeling beside a car with traffic passing a few feet away is one of the most dangerous situations on the road. Stay in the car with your belt on, hazards running, and call for help.
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Call nowWhat a tire-change call looks like
A technician comes to you, puts your spare on safely, checks its pressure and makes sure the lug nuts are tight. It is one flat price for a flat tire change, the same at night as at noon. Many cars come with a compact spare that is meant only for limited speed and distance, so plan to get the flat repaired or replaced soon.
If there is no spare, the spare is flat too, the wheel lock key is missing, or the tire damage has hurt the wheel, the car needs a tow to a tire shop. Tell the dispatcher, and we send a truck instead of a tech so you are not waiting twice. You choose the shop.
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Call nowDriving on the spare
A compact spare, sometimes called a donut, is smaller and narrower than a regular tire. Most carry a speed and distance limit printed on the sidewall or in the owner's manual. Respect it. Stay in the right lane, leave more room for braking, and go to a tire shop as soon as you can rather than finishing a long trip on it. Check the spare's pressure; spares that sit for years in the trunk are often low.
Some cars come with no spare at all, only a sealant kit and a small compressor. A kit can get you moving after a small puncture in the tread, but it will not fix a sidewall cut, a large hole or a blowout, and the shop may need to clean the sealant out before repairing the tire. If the kit does not hold, the car needs a tow.
Many cars also use a wheel lock on one lug nut per wheel. The key for it usually lives in the glove box or the trunk tray. Find it now, before you need it. Without it, the wheel cannot come off on the roadside.
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Call nowThe Turnpike and the Parkway are different
On the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, the shoulder is served by the Turnpike Authority's authorized garages. Book with us and we take the car from the exit or the garage's lot to the tire shop or driveway you choose. Every other road, including Routes 1 & 9, Route 22, I-78, I-287 and every local street, is a direct dispatch.
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Call nowGive a precise location
Note the road, direction, nearest exit or mile marker, and a landmark. For a highway, say which side the flat tire is on and whether the car is fully on the shoulder. Then call (908) 444-0129. For conditions on the road ahead while you wait, NJ 511 posts incidents and lane closures statewide.
Drivers passing a disabled car with flashing lights are required under New Jersey's Move Over law to slow down and, if safe, change lanes. Do not rely on it. Stay inside the car unless it is unsafe. More on what to do after the tire is fixed is in our flat tire guide, and general roadside assistance covers the rest.
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Call nowMore on tires
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #2: Cold weather lowers your tire pressure overnight
- Tip #13: Driving on a flat ruins the tire and the wheel within a short distance
- Tip #14: Find your spare, jack and wheel-lock key before you need them
- Tip #17: Run-flat tires buy you limited miles at limited speed, not a free pass
- Tip #22: The tire pressure light is a warning to check, not proof of a flat
- Tip #86: Rotate your tires on the schedule in your owner's manual
- Tip #92: Check the spare tire's pressure, because a flat spare is no spare
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- All posts
Questions drivers ask about this
Short answers.
Is it safe to change a flat on a New Jersey highway shoulder?
Only if the car is well off the road, on level ground, and the flat is away from traffic. Otherwise stay in the car, belted in, with the hazards on, and call for help.
What if I do not have a spare tire?
Then the car needs a tow to a tire shop. Tell the dispatcher there is no usable spare and a truck is sent instead of a technician.
Can you change a tire on the Turnpike or Parkway?
Turnpike and Parkway shoulders are served by the Authority's authorized garages. Book with us and we take the car from the exit or the garage's lot.
Ask the dispatcher anything.
Call nowNeed towing and roadside assistance right now? One call, truck on the way.
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