Check for a usable spare and a way to remove the lug nuts before you call. If both are fine, a tire change is quick; if the tire is shredded or there is no spare, you need a tow. Published local figures for a 5-mile tow typically run $75–$150.
Check before you call: is there a spare under the car or in the trunk, and do you have the key for locking wheel nuts if your wheels use them? Those two questions decide whether this is a ten-minute swap or a tow, and a dispatcher will ask both.
Then look at the tire itself. A tire that has lost air but still holds its shape is a different case from one with the sidewall split or the tread peeled away. Tell Akron Towing Service at (234) 312-4777 which one you have.
Should I change it myself or call?
If the car is on level, firm ground away from traffic and you have a jack, a wrench and a spare you trust, changing it yourself is reasonable. Call if the ground slopes, if you cannot loosen the nuts, or if the car sits close to passing vehicles.
Many newer cars carry a compact spare or an inflator kit instead of a full-size spare. A compact spare has speed and distance limits printed on its sidewall, so read them before you drive off.
When does a flat turn into a tow?
When the spare is missing or flat too, when the wheel is bent, or when the tire has come apart. Driving a few blocks on a flat to reach a shop ruins the tire and can wreck the wheel as well.
Published local figures for a 5-mile tow typically run $75–$150, and for 10 miles the range is the same. Those are market numbers, not a quote from this business, so ask for the price before the hook-up.
- Sidewall split or bulge
- No spare, or a spare that won't hold air
- Wheel bent or the nuts seized
What do I tell the dispatcher?
The make and model, the tire size if you can read it off the sidewall, and which wheel is flat. If the car carries an inflator kit instead of a spare, say that too.
Can I drive on a flat tire to a shop?
No. Even a short distance can destroy the tire and bend the wheel. If you must move the car, go slowly to the nearest safe spot, not to a shop across town.
How much does a tire change cost?
There is no published price for a tire change, so ask when you call. The published tow figures above apply only if the tire cannot be changed.