A flat tire at 65 miles an hour on I-95 is one of the more unnerving things that can happen behind the wheel. The good news is that if you know the right sequence of steps, you can get yourself and your car somewhere safe in a couple of minutes — no drama required.
1. Don’t slam the brakes
Your instinct will be to stop as fast as possible. Resist it. Ease off the gas, let the car slow naturally, and grip the wheel firmly — a blown tire can pull hard to one side. Signal and move toward the shoulder gradually rather than cutting across lanes.
2. Get as far off the roadway as you can
The right shoulder is safer than the left, and further from the roadway is always better than closer. If there’s an exit ramp, parking lot, or wide shoulder just ahead, it’s usually worth continuing a short distance at low speed to reach it rather than stopping in a narrow shoulder right where the tire failed.
3. Make yourself visible
- Turn on your hazard lights immediately
- Set out reflective triangles or flares behind your vehicle if you carry them
- Turn your wheels away from traffic before you get out
4. Call for help before you touch the tire
Changing a tire yourself on the shoulder of a highway carries real risk from passing traffic, even with hazards on. Unless you’re somewhere clearly safe and off the roadway, it’s worth calling for mobile tire service rather than getting down next to a live lane.
5. Know what to tell the dispatcher
- Your direction of travel and the nearest mile marker or exit
- Whether you’re on the shoulder or further off the roadway
- Your vehicle’s make, model, and tire size if you know it
A clear location is the single biggest factor in how quickly help can reach you. Mile markers are posted along I-95 every mile and are the fastest way to describe exactly where you are.
What we do when we arrive
Our technicians carry the tools for an on-site tire swap or mobile tire installation, so in most cases you’re back on the road without a tow. If the damage is more than a flat — a blown sidewall, bent rim, or no spare — we’ll walk you through the next step on the spot.