There is nothing like the feeling of having a fully functioning vehicle. You can get where you need to go, when you need to get there without worrying about bus or subway schedules. It feels a lot like freedom. However, that feeling can go out the window real quick when you experience a flat tire. While most flats can be avoided with routine tire maintenance -- maintaining proper tire pressure, checking for signs of wear --sometimes it just happens. While the flat may have been unavoidable it's important that you know what to do about it so that you are left stranded on the side of the road waiting for help to arrive. There are a few different kinds of flats so the first step is to remove the damaged tire. The vast majority of the time you are going to have to switch to your spare; it's always a good idea to check the pressure of your spare or donut tire when checking the rest of your tires so that when you do experience a flat tire your spare is ready. With the spare tire in place you can check your damaged tire. Punctured tires can repaired relatively easily with a plug kit. It is a simple process of inserting a rubber plug into the hole in the tire. The task is pretty straight forward, however, it can only be done if the puncture is in the tread area of the tire. A puncture in the sidewall means the tire needs to be replaced. Slashed or split tires in most cases need to be replaced. If you have any doubts about the state of your tires it's a good idea to take them into a trusted tire dealer. They can help you assess whether or not your tires need to be replaced or can be repaired. Also, if you have purchased your tires recently, it is recommended that you take them back to the same location because many tires offer a warranty; which is always worth looking into. Having a good set of Goodrich tires is an important part of maintaining your vehicles functionality and safety. Properly maintaining your tires can help you avoid getting a flat but when a flat tire happens getting the situation fixed quickly and correctly can get you back on the road again in no time. If you would like to see how a tire plug works here is a video that walks you through the process.