SA’s flat-tyre hotspots
Main North Road, North East Road and South Road are SA’s worst corridors for flat tyres, according to new RAA road service data.
Top roads for flat tyres
Patrols attended 403 callouts on Main North Road – the most of any road in the state – followed by North East Road (353), South Road (230) and the Northern Connector (220).
In regional SA, the South Eastern Freeway topped the list (211), ahead of the Sturt Highway (155), Princes Highway (144) and Victor Harbor Road (121).
Flat-tyre hotspots by suburb and town
By suburb, Adelaide’s CBD was the state’s biggest flat tyre hotspot in the metro area with 967 callouts, followed by Morphett Vale (510), Modbury (342) and North Adelaide (338).
In regional SA, busy towns like Mount Barker (431), Mount Gambier (258), Murray Bridge (244) and Victor Harbor (194) recorded the most tyre-related callouts.
Tyre and wheel-related issues have made up about one in eight RAA road service callouts so far in 2026 – the highest share since at least 2020.
Top 10 metro Adelaide tyre callouts
| Road | Tyre/wheel callouts | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main North Road* | 403 |
| 2 | North East Road* | 353 |
| 3 | South Road | 230 |
| 4 | Northern Connector | 220 |
| 5 | Southern Expressway | 218 |
| 6 | Port Road | 199 |
| 7 | Main South Road | 187 |
| 8 | Grand Junction Road | 173 |
| 9 | Marion Road* | 161 |
| 10 | Greenhill Road* | 146 |
*Also featured in the top 10 of RAA’s 2024 Risky Roads survey
Link between flat-tyre hotspots and risky roads
RAA Senior Manager of Road Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says many of the hotspots were on SA’s busiest roads, but several were also flagged by South Australians in RAA’s most recent Risky Roads survey.
“Tyre and wheel-related issues are one of the most common reasons our patrols are called out by drivers, and they can happen anywhere – whether you’re on a busy city arterial or a country highway,” Charles says.
“It’s no surprise our busiest roads see the most callouts, but many of these corridors also made the top 10 in our 2024 Risky Roads survey, including Main North Road, North East Road and Victor Harbor Road.”
Four of the top 10 metro roads for flat tyres run through Adelaide’s northern suburbs, which have seen an explosion of new housing and population in recent years.
“That’s putting more pressure on roads like Main North Road, where maintenance was also a key concern raised in our Risky Roads survey,” Charles says.
Top 10 regional tyre callouts
| Road | Tyre/wheel callouts | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Eastern Freeway | 211 |
| 2 | Sturt Highway* | 155 |
| 3 | Princess Highway | 144 |
| 4 | Victor Harbor Road | 121 |
| 5 | Dukes Highway | 120 |
| 6 | Port Wakefield Highway | 115 |
| 7 | Eyre Highway | 103 |
| 8 | Augusta Highway | 97 |
| 9 | Main South Road* | 86 |
| 10 | Riddoch Highway* | 60 |
*Also featured in the top 10 of RAA’s 2024 Risky Roads survey
Avoiding a flat tyre
Drivers can reduce their risk of a flat by regularly checking tyre pressure and tread, including the spare, and keeping an eye out for hazards on the road ahead.
“If you do get a flat, pull over somewhere safe if you can and turn on your hazard lights.”