FLAT TIRE ON
THE HIGHWAY?
Saskatchewan highways are long, exposed, and unforgiving. A flat tire at 110 km/h is scary — but what you do in the next five minutes matters more than anything. This page will help you figure out whether you can handle it yourself or whether you should call for roadside assistance.
FIRST: ARE YOU SAFE?
Before you think about the tire, think about your safety. Getting hit by traffic is a bigger danger than the flat tire itself.
Pull onto the right shoulder, past the rumble strips. The further from the travel lane, the better. If there’s a wide gravel area or approach, use it.
This is the single most important thing you can do. Hazards make you visible to approaching traffic from much further away.
This makes your vehicle more visible and helps approaching drivers recognize you’re stopped, not moving slowly.
Some stretches of Highway 11 and Highway 16 have minimal shoulders. Drive slowly on the flat to the nearest approach, grid road intersection, or pulloff — even a few hundred metres can make the difference.
If traffic is too close, visibility is poor, or the weather is bad, do not get out. Stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on and call for help. We’re available 24/7.
CAN I CHANGE IT MYSELF?
Be honest with yourself. There's no shame in calling for help — it's the smart move more often than most people think.
Many newer vehicles don’t come with one — check your trunk or under the cargo area. Some only have a tire inflation kit, which won’t help with a blowout.
They’re usually stored with the spare. If you’ve never used them, a highway shoulder in the wind is not the place to learn.
Soft gravel shoulders are common on Saskatchewan highways. A jack will sink into soft ground and the vehicle can fall. Pavement or hard-packed ground only.
Consider traffic speed, shoulder width, visibility, and weather. If the flat is on the driver (traffic) side, it’s significantly more dangerous.
- Park on firm, level ground as far from traffic as possible
- Put vehicle in park (or gear) and engage parking brake
- Loosen lug nuts slightly before jacking up
- Place jack on the vehicle's jack point (check your manual)
- Remove lugs, swap tire, hand-tighten lugs in a star pattern
- Lower vehicle, then fully tighten lugs
- Drive to a tire shop — spare tires are temporary (max 80 km/h)
Call for help. It's the right call. A tow from where you are to the nearest tire shop typically costs $100–$150. That's a lot cheaper than a hospital visit or a damaged rim.
(306) 291-8567WHEN TO SKIP THE DIY AND CALL
Sometimes the right tool for a flat tire is a phone. Here are the situations where you should skip the tire change and get professional help.
More common than you’d think. Many 2020+ vehicles only include a tire inflation kit. If the tire is shredded, a sealant kit won’t help.
Highway 11, Highway 16, and Highway 12 all have sections with 110 km/h traffic and narrow shoulders. Working beside your vehicle on these highways is genuinely dangerous.
Frostbite can start in minutes at \u221220\u00B0C with wind. Add slippery ground, poor visibility, and numb fingers trying to handle a lug wrench — it's not worth the risk. Check our winter driving tips for more on staying safe in Saskatchewan winters.
If the flat tire is on the driver’s side, you’d be crouching in the lane of traffic to change it. Do not do this on any highway.
Multiple flats usually mean you hit a road hazard — construction debris, a pothole, or worse. You only have one spare. Call for a tow.
If your vehicle has run-flat tires (check your door jamb sticker or manual), you can drive up to 80 km at a maximum of 80 km/h to the nearest tire shop. Don’t push it further than that.
A tow costs $100–$150. A hospital visit costs more.
CAN I DRIVE ON A FLAT TIRE?
No. Every metre you drive on a flat tire makes the situation worse and more expensive.
A flat tire that could have been patched for $25 becomes a $200+ replacement if you drive on it. The sidewall gets shredded from the inside.
Driving on a flat grinds the rim against the pavement. A new rim costs $200–$500 depending on your vehicle. Alloy rims are even more expensive.
The uneven ride height stresses suspension components and throws off your alignment. What started as a $25 patch can turn into a $1,000+ repair.
A flat tire dramatically reduces your ability to steer and brake, especially at highway speeds. This is how single-vehicle accidents happen.
Exception: run-flat tires. If your vehicle came equipped with run-flat tires, you can drive up to 80 km at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Check your door jamb sticker or owner's manual. Don't exceed these limits — the reinforced sidewall has limits too.
FLAT TIRE FAQ
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