What To Do If You Get A Flat Tyre On The M62

The M62 is one of the most challenging motorways in England. Stretching from Liverpool through Manchester to Leeds, it crosses the Pennines at over 370 metres above sea level, making it the highest motorway in the country. High winds, heavy rain, and debris from HGV traffic make flat tyres a common problem along this route.

If you have just got a flat tyre on the M62, the most important thing is to stay calm. This guide walks you through exactly what to do, step by step, so you can stay safe and get help as quickly as possible.

1. Immediate Steps When You Get A Flat

The moment you realise you have a tyre problem, whether that is a sudden blowout or a gradual loss of steering control, follow this sequence:

1. Do not brake suddenly. Ease off the accelerator and let the car slow gradually. Sudden braking with a flat tyre can cause you to lose control, especially on the exposed sections of the M62 around junction 22 (Saddleworth Moor).
2. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. This warns drivers behind you that something is wrong.
3. Steer gently towards the left. Move into the left-hand lane if it is safe to do so, then aim for the hard shoulder or the nearest emergency refuge area.
4. Stop as far to the left as possible. If there is a hard shoulder, pull onto it and continue as far left as you can. Your nearside wheels should be on the verge if possible.

2. Using The Hard Shoulder On The M62

Large sections of the M62 still have a traditional hard shoulder, particularly between junctions 18 (Simister Island near Manchester) and junction 22 (the Pennine section). However, this motorway also has smart motorway sections where the hard shoulder has been converted into a running lane.

If there is a hard shoulder available, pull onto it and stop. Keep your wheels turned to the left so that if you are struck from behind, the car is pushed off the road rather than into traffic. Leave your hazard lights on, and if it is dark, keep your sidelights on as well.

Get out of the vehicle through the left-hand (passenger side) doors. This is critical. On the M62, traffic passes at high speed and the margin between the hard shoulder and lane one is narrow. Never exit through the driver's door directly into traffic.

3. Smart Motorway Sections

The M62 has smart motorway (all lane running) sections between junction 10 (Croft Interchange, Warrington) and junction 12 (Eccles), and between junction 18 (Simister) and junction 20 (Rochdale). In these sections there is no hard shoulder.

If you get a flat on a smart motorway section, look for the nearest emergency refuge area (ERA). These are marked with orange signs and spaced roughly every 1.5 miles. They have an SOS phone and are the safest place to stop.

If you cannot reach an ERA, stop in the left-hand lane with your hazard lights on. National Highways will detect the stopped vehicle and set the overhead signals to close the lane behind you. Stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on until a traffic officer or patrol arrives.

4. Who To Call For Emergency Tyre Help

Once you are safely out of the vehicle and behind the barrier (or in an ERA), you have several options:

• Highways England / National Highways: If you are on a smart motorway section and stuck in a live lane, call 999 and ask for Highways England.
• Your breakdown provider: If you have AA, RAC, or Green Flag cover, call them. Be aware that motorway callouts can take 45 to 90 minutes, depending on demand.
• A mobile tyre fitting service: Services like TyrePatrol247 in Manchester or TyrePatrol247 in Leeds can reach you on the M62 with the correct replacement tyre already on the van. This is often faster than a traditional breakdown service that may only tow you to a garage.

When you call, have the following information ready: your exact location (junction number or marker post), the make, model and year of your vehicle, and the tyre size if you know it (found on the sidewall of your current tyres or inside the driver's door frame).

5. Staying Safe While You Wait

The M62 Pennine section is notorious for harsh weather. Even in summer, temperatures can drop significantly at the high points. If you are waiting on the hard shoulder:

• Stand behind the barrier and well away from the carriageway. Move up the embankment if you can.
• Wear a high-visibility vest if you have one. Keep one in your boot.
• Do not put a warning triangle on a motorway. This is dangerous as it requires you to walk into live traffic. The Highway Code specifically advises against this on motorways.
• Keep your phone charged. If your battery is low, switch to power-saving mode after making your call.
• If it is cold or raining, it may be safer to wait inside the vehicle with your seatbelt on, particularly if you are on a smart motorway section with no barrier.

6. Common Causes Of M62 Flat Tyres

The M62 has a higher rate of tyre incidents than many UK motorways for several reasons:

• Road debris: Heavy HGV traffic between the Port of Liverpool and the logistics hubs of West Yorkshire means frequent tyre debris, metal fragments, and other hazards on the carriageway.
• Potholes: The Pennine sections are subject to frost damage, particularly in winter and early spring. Deep potholes can cause sidewall damage and instant blowouts.
• Temperature fluctuation: Climbing from sea level to 370 metres and back again causes tyre pressure changes. Under-inflated tyres are far more likely to fail.
• High speeds: The M62 has a 70 mph speed limit, and many drivers exceed it. At higher speeds, tyre defects that might be manageable at 40 mph become catastrophic.

7. Prevention Tips

You can significantly reduce your risk of a flat tyre on the M62 with basic maintenance:

• Check tyre pressures monthly and before long motorway journeys. Refer to your vehicle handbook or door sticker for the correct PSI. Read our tyre pressure guide for step-by-step instructions.
• Check tread depth. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm, but most tyre professionals recommend replacing at 3mm. Shallow tread is more vulnerable to punctures.
• Inspect tyres visually for cuts, bulges, or objects embedded in the rubber. A nail picked up on a side road can cause a slow puncture that fails at motorway speed.
• Avoid the leftmost lane where debris tends to accumulate, unless you need to be there for your junction.