A flat tire never happens at a convenient time. Whether it's on your way to work, during errands, or late in the evening, how you react in the first few minutes matters. The right steps can prevent wheel damage, reduce safety risks, and keep a small problem from becoming an expensive one.
- Get the vehicle off the road safely before anything else.
- Don't keep driving on a fully flat tire — it ruins the rim.
- If it's still holding pressure, drive slowly to PitStop & Go for a patch ($45).
- Sidewall punctures cannot be safely repaired.
First priority: get somewhere safe
Pull off the roadway onto firm, level ground — a parking lot, residential street, or wide shoulder. Hazard lights on, foot off the accelerator, let the car coast down. Don't slam the brakes.
Inside Fredericton city limits there's almost always a side street or lot within a few hundred metres. On the highway, get to the next exit if it's close; otherwise the wide shoulder is your friend.
Should I drive on the flat to the shop?
Only if it's still holding some pressure. Run-flats and slightly low tires can travel a short distance at low speed (under 40 km/h) without major damage. A fully flat tire is different — the bead unseats, the sidewall is squashed against the road, and within a few minutes you're grinding the rim on pavement.
If you have a spare and know how to fit it, that's the safest move. If you don't, call us — we'll talk you through it or come look at it.
What we can repair, what we can't
Roughly 70% of flats that come into our shop are patchable. The rules of thumb:
Patchable: a puncture in the central tread area, smaller than 6 mm in diameter, with no other structural damage. We use an internal patch — the only industry-approved method — and back it with a leak-proof guarantee for the life of the tire.
Not patchable: sidewall punctures, large tears, bead damage, run-flats that have been driven on, or tires with multiple punctures close together. In those cases a replacement is the only safe option.
Common Fredericton causes
Construction debris, especially in summer along the Trans-Canada corridor and around the airport. Nails and screws are the everyday culprit.
Potholes that develop in the spring freeze-thaw. These cause both sidewall damage and bent rims — both of which require more than a patch.
Can you drive on a flat tire?
Only briefly, slowly, and only when getting to safety. Driving on a fully deflated tire for more than a short distance destroys the rim and may damage the brake and suspension components, turning a $45 patch into a multi-hundred-dollar bill.
How much does it cost to repair a flat tire in Fredericton?
At PitStop & Go, an interior patch repair starts at $45 with a leak-proof guarantee. We can usually have you back on the road in 15–20 minutes if the puncture is in the central tread and smaller than 6 mm.
Can a sidewall puncture be patched?
No. Sidewall punctures, large tears, or bead damage cannot be safely repaired and the tire must be replaced. The sidewall flexes under load and a patch will fail.
Ready to roll out?
Book online in under two minutes — or call the shop and we'll find a slot today.