How-to
Flat Tire or Lockout in Anchorage? What to Do First
Got a flat or locked your keys in the car in Anchorage? First, get to a safe spot. On the Seward Highway or Minnesota Drive, roll slowly to the next exit or a wide, flat lot instead of stopping on a thin shoulder. Turn on your hazards. Note where you are. Then call for a tire change or a lockout. If you're stuck in a live lane or anyone is hurt, call 911 first.
Why do so many Anchorage tires go flat in spring?
Blame the freeze and the thaw. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities explains it simply. Water gets under the pavement through cracks. In winter it freezes and pushes the road up. When it thaws, it leaves a gap underneath. Then cars roll over it, and the road dips, cracks and breaks into potholes.
In Anchorage, that damage shows up when the snow melts and the ground thaws. You hit a fresh hole at speed on the way to work, and you hear the thump. A mile later the car pulls to one side.
The state also warns that water and asphalt do not mix. It says it has had many reports of flat tires from drivers going too fast through puddles and hitting potholes they couldn't see. A puddle on Tudor Road in April may be a lot deeper than it looks.
- Slow down for every puddle, big ones most of all.
- Leave room behind the car ahead, so you can see the road surface.
- Don't swerve hard around a hole at the last second. Brake before it, not on it.
Where should you pull over on the Seward Highway or Minnesota Drive?
Not on the first bit of shoulder you see. Both roads move fast, and some shoulders are thin. A tire change takes room on the traffic side of the car. That's the side that gets you hurt.
If the tire is flat but the car still rolls, keep going slowly with your hazards on. A ruined tire is better than standing next to fast traffic. Aim for these:
- The next exit. On the Seward freeway, exits for Tudor, Abbott and De Armoun come up often. Get off and find a side street or a lot.
- A big, flat parking lot. Level ground matters. A jack on a slope or on soft snow can slip.
- A wide spot well off the lane if there's truly no exit near you.
Minnesota Drive is tricky, since part of the expressway runs on O'Malley Road. When you call, say which road sign you saw last and which way you were heading. Past the city, the Seward drops to two lanes along Turnagain Arm toward Girdwood. Shoulders there can be narrow, with rock on one side and water on the other. Go slow and find a pullout.
If the car can't move and it's sitting in a lane, put your hazards on, stay buckled in and call 911. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
What does the move-over law do for you?
Alaska's move-over law, AS 28.35.185, covers tow trucks picking up a car and road service vehicles with lights flashing. On a road with two or more lanes going one way, drivers must leave the lane next to them. On smaller roads, they must slow down. It does not protect you standing by your car. So stay off the traffic side.
Should you change the tire yourself?
Sometimes. If you're in a quiet, flat lot in daylight, and you know how, go ahead. But a lot of Anchorage flats don't happen like that. Skip it if any of these are true:
- The flat tire is on the side facing traffic.
- The ground is icy, soft or sloped.
- Your spare is flat too, or you aren't sure you have one.
- The lug nuts are rusted on, or you don't have the wheel lock key.
- It's dark, it's cold, and your hands won't work right.
A flat tire change means your driver puts your spare on for you. It isn't a tire repair. If two tires are flat, the rim is bent or there's no usable spare, you'll need a tow to a tire shop instead. Say so when you call, so the right truck comes.
Who fixes the pothole that got you?
It depends on who owns the road. Many of Anchorage's big roads belong to the State of Alaska, not the city. The Municipality's street page lists the state roads. They include the Glenn Highway, the New Seward Highway, Minnesota Drive, Tudor, Dowling, Muldoon, Debarr, Boniface, C Street, A Street, Dimond, O'Malley, DeArmoun, Huffman and Rabbit Creek Road.
| Where the pothole is | Who to call |
|---|---|
| A state road in Anchorage, like Minnesota Drive or the New Seward | Alaska DOT&PF, 907-338-1466 |
| A Municipality of Anchorage street | Pothole hotline, 343-MEND (907-343-6363) |
| A city street in Eagle River | Eagle River Street Maintenance, 907-343-1510 |
Call once you're safe and your car is handled, not from the shoulder. Give the road, the nearest cross street and which lane. That report may save the next driver's tire.
What if you're locked out instead?
Lockouts in Anchorage have their own twist: the cold. You hop out to scrape the windshield or grab the mail, and the door shuts behind you. Now your phone, coat and keys are all inside.
- Get warm first. Step into a store, a lobby or a friend's car while you wait.
- Check every door and the hatch. One may still be open.
- Look for a spare key at home or with someone who can bring it.
- Don't pry the door or break a window to save a little time. Cold glass and stiff door seals break easily.
A car lockout service opens the door so you can get your own keys out. It doesn't cut or make new keys. If a child or a pet is locked in, call 911 right away.
A cold snap can also kill a weak battery while you sort out the keys. If the car won't start once you're back in, ask about a jump start.
When do Anchorage drivers swap to studded tires?
Tire swaps matter here, because a spare that's sat all summer may be low, and a new tire can be mounted wrong. Know the dates too. The state allows studded tires north of latitude 60 from September 16 through April 30. But the Municipality of Anchorage doesn't allow them inside city limits until October 1. That's Municipal ordinance 19-13, and Anchorage police can ticket you for studs before then.
When you swap, ask the shop to check the spare's air too. A flat spare turns a quick roadside fix into a tow.
How does Sentinel help with a flat or a lockout?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. You get your price by text before we dispatch, and that price is the most you pay. Then we check on you by text until your driver gets there. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. You also get your driver's name, photo and truck by text, so you know who's pulling up.
Your price depends on the job: a tire change or a tow, what vehicle you drive, and how far a partner must go to reach you. Before a long trip south on the Seward, check Alaska 511 for closures. For the areas partners serve, see our Anchorage towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Anchorage Flat Tire and Lockout Questions
Can I drive on a flat to get off the Seward Highway?
Slowly, with your hazards on, to the next exit or a safe lot, yes. You may ruin the tire or the rim, but that beats changing a tire next to fast traffic. If the car won't move, stay buckled in and call 911.
Will you fix my tire on the spot?
No. Your driver puts your spare on. If you have no usable spare, or more than one tire is flat, you'll need a tow to a tire shop. Tell us when you call so the right truck comes.
Who do I report a pothole on Minnesota Drive to?
Minnesota Drive is a state road, so call Alaska DOT&PF at 907-338-1466. For a city street, call the Municipality's hotline at 343-MEND. Give the cross street and the lane.
Can I put studded tires on in late September in Anchorage?
Not inside city limits. State law allows studs north of latitude 60 from September 16, but Anchorage's ordinance waits until October 1. Police in the city can ticket you before then.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Alaska DOT&PF on freeze and thaw, Alaska DOT&PF travel info (potholes, studded tires), Alaska DOT&PF studded tire notice, Anchorage Street Maintenance, Street Maintenance contacts, AS 28.35.185, Alaska 511.
