Flat Tire Assistance in Muskoka

• Get off the travelled lane — a flat is worth ruining to reach a safe spot.
• Hazards on, park brake set, and on a hill turn the wheels toward the curb or bank.
• Stay away from the traffic side of the vehicle while you wait.
• Check whether you actually have a spare, a jack and a wheel key — many drivers don't.
• Note if the wheel has locking nuts and where the key lives.

Changing a wheel yourself beside fast traffic on the shoulder of Highway 11 is a different proposition from doing it in a quiet parking lot in Gravenhurst. If you're on the highway side of the vehicle, waiting is usually the better choice.

A lot of Muskoka flats don't happen on pavement. Sharp gravel on township roads, frost heaves in spring, construction debris and the occasional rock on a cottage lane all take tires out. Damage on the sidewall or from hitting an edge at speed usually can't be plugged, which is why the honest answer sometimes skips the roadside change and goes straight to a tow.

If the vehicle has slid off while you were dealing with the flat, that becomes a recovery — mention it on the phone.

What if I don't have a spare?

Many newer vehicles ship with an inflator kit instead of a spare, and a kit won't help with a sidewall cut or a shredded tire. With no usable spare, the practical answer is a short tow to a tire shop.

Can I drive slowly to the next town on a flat?

Driving on a deflated tire generally destroys the tire and can damage the wheel, and steering and braking are affected. If you're somewhere unsafe, moving a short distance to a safer spot is a judgement call — but treat it as a last resort, not a plan to reach Bracebridge.

How far can I go on a compact spare?

Temporary spares carry their own speed and distance limits, usually printed on the tire itself or in the owner's manual. Check it, and head for a tire shop rather than a cottage two hours away.

Do you repair the tire at the roadside?

Roadside work is fitting your spare so you can drive to a shop. Permanent repairs are done at a tire shop where the tire can be dismounted and inspected properly.

• All Muskoka roadside assistance

  Boosts, lockouts, fuel and winch-outs.

• Battery boost

  Slow crank, clicking or no dash lights.

• Fuel delivery

  Ran dry between towns.

• Highway 11 towing

  Locating yourself on the main corridor.