A Flat Tire

I have a flat tire.

A flat tire is a deflated pneumatic tire. This may cause the rim of the wheel to ride on the tire tread or the ground, and may result in loss of control of the vehicle or irreparable damage to the tire and wheel.

The most common cause is puncturing of the tire by a sharp object thereby letting air out. Depending on the size of the hole, the tire may deflate slowly or rapidly. While some flattened tires, particularly those caused by a slow leak, can be repaired and re-inflated with air, others, especially those from worn tread, must be completely replaced.

My tire was rolling along fine until last November when Weight Watchers changed their plan. Slowly, but surely the air in my tire started to leak. I’ve been riding on this deflating tire for a couple months now and starting to lose control of my vehicle, also known as my body. The weight is slowly coming back on.

How can I continue to drive along on this weight loss journey with a flat tire?

When a flat tire occurs, drivers are advised to slow down gradually and pull off the road in a safe place as soon as possible. Continuing to drive after a tire becomes flat may be extremely hazardous. If there is any chance of patching a leak and restoring a tire, it will be diminished if the car continues to be driven. Continuing to drive may also cause damage to the wheel, the hub assembly, or other parts of the vehicle since they can come into contact with the road surface.

Driving with a flat tire, especially at higher speeds, is dangerous. Since controlling the vehicle becomes more difficult, this may result in a serious accident.

So what do I do to repair this flat without doing harm to all that I have accomplished?

Motor vehicles are normally equipped with a kit necessary for changing a flat tire. These include a jack, a tire iron and a spare tire. The most common way to repair a flat tire at the side of the road is to use a canned tire inflator, also known as "fix-a-flat". This is a can filled with a liquid that is propelled using compressed air inside the can into the tire via a flexible tube attached to the valve stem. Once inside the tire, the liquid is forced towards the puncture and will block the hole created by the puncture.

What is in my Weight Watcher’s kit that will help me fix this flat tire of mine? This basic kit includes the following: willpower, portion control, strong support system, a pencil, my food journal, making better food choices, accountability on the scale, daily activity and attending the meetings.

One disadvantage of patching a tire is that due to the process requiring one to remove the tire from the wheel, the tire must be balanced again when it is put back on the wheel. Tires can leak air due to a variety of reasons. Also worth mentioning is the fact that tires simply lose air over time. Even a brand new tire, properly inflated, will lose air even with no punctures present.

The best way to avoid a flat tire is to avoid situations favorable to tire punctures. If you happen to be stuck with a flat tire and are unable to change the spare tire yourself, or encounter other problems with your vehicle that leave you stuck at the side of the road, it's always a good idea to have a membership to, and carry a card for an auto club, or a roadside assistance agency. In this case…Weight Watchers.

Most drivers face a flat at least a few times in their lives. Although it can be daunting the first time you attempt it, changing a flat tire is not difficult. Almost anyone can do it in less than 15 minutes – less time than it usually takes for a tow truck to arrive. Let’s hope that I can repair my tire because if you get a flat tire, it doesn’t mean that you slash the other three tires on the car. You fix it and drive on ahead.