What a flat tire lacks

Latest answer — August 15, 2026

42 Across

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Clue explained

A flat tire lacks AIR, because its compressed air has escaped or fallen below the needed pressure.

Clue type:
Definition
A car tire visibly flattened from low air pressure.

Daily Themed Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 15, 2026 appearance

Across

  1. 1Perform in playsACT
  2. 4Something to scratchITCH
  3. 8Happy dog's tail movementWAG
  4. 11___ Paulo, Brazil (anagram of "ASO")SAO
  5. 12Marco ___ (swimming pool game)POLO
  6. 13"A Nightmare on ___ Street" (classic horror movie)ELM
  7. 14Big gulp, as from a flaskSWIG
  8. 16Disorderly pile (rhymes with "leap")HEAP
  9. 17Resort where you might wear a robeSPA
  10. 18Toy building block brandLEGO
  11. 20___ MessagePad, Apple handheld device that originated the term "PDA" when it arrived in 1993, introducing early handwriting recognition techNEWTON
  12. 22They're from Mars, in a metaphorMEN
  13. 23Cookie-selling youth organization (anagram of "sag"): Abbr.GSA
  14. 24A ___ in the machine (insignificant)COG
  15. 27Word indicating a woman's maiden nameNEE
  16. 29Do laps in a pool, saySWIM
  17. 33Deserving a thumbs-upGOOD
  18. 35"And so on," brieflyETC
  19. 38"___ a Barbie girl ...": 2 wds.IMA
  20. 39Apple music player that famously promised to put "1,000 songs in your pocket" when it arrived in 2001, kicking off the digital music boomIPOD
  21. 40Baseball Hall of Famer GehrigLOU
  22. 41Document-sending machine of oldFAX
  23. 42What a flat tire lacksAIR
  24. 45Archaeological findRELIC
  25. 47Actor and wrestler ___ "The Rock" JohnsonDWAYNE
  26. 50Confidentiality contract: Abbr.NDA
  27. 51Software that Apple devices like 4d run on: Abbr.IOS
  28. 52Type of "mining" done in Silicon Valley, maybeDATA
  29. 54What Adele does onstageSING
  30. 58Higher education test: Abbr.GRE
  31. 59Apple tablet that became an instant bestseller when it arrived in 2010, popularizing tablets for video playback and reading on the goIPAD
  32. 60Like a lemonSOUR
  33. 61Jamaican music genre that preceded reggaeSKA
  34. 62"This comes ___ surprise": 2 wds.ASNO
  35. 63"I'm ___ you" ("I know what you're doing")ONTO

Down

  1. 1Another word for "donkey"ASS
  2. 2Crow's cryCAW
  3. 3Labor relentlessly (rhymes with "soil")TOIL
  4. 4Apple mobile device that introduced a revolutionary multi-touch screen when it arrived in 2007, pioneering the modern touchscreen eraIPHONE
  5. 5Wiggly foot partTOE
  6. 6Sound made by a bell or gongCLANG
  7. 7"Don't get your ___ up" (realist's advice, perhaps)HOPES
  8. 8"The Wild Wild ___"WEST
  9. 9Canned dog food brand (anagram of "opal")ALPO
  10. 10FBI agent, informally: Hyph.GMAN
  11. 15Ruby or emerald, e.g.GEM
  12. 19___-Z (demographic after millennials)GEN
  13. 21"Phew, that ___ a close call!"WAS
  14. 24Technology used in Marvel movies: Abbr.CGI
  15. 25Alley-___ (basketball play)OOP
  16. 26Icky, sticky stuffGOO
  17. 28Long fish that can be electric or spinyEEL
  18. 30Internet connection that's often password-protected: Hyph.WIFI
  19. 31___ G3, Apple desktop computer that featured a colorful, translucent design when it arrived in 1998, transforming home PCsIMAC
  20. 32Highest setting on an AC, for shortMAX
  21. 34WWII turning point: Hyph.DDAY
  22. 36Funnel-shaped windstormTORNADO
  23. 37Signaled on stageCUED
  24. 43World's most populous countryINDIA
  25. 44Acquires, as profitREAPS
  26. 46Rancher's ropeLASSO
  27. 47Uses a shovel, sayDIGS
  28. 48"All ___ and no play ..."WORK
  29. 49Out on the oceanASEA
  30. 53Sun-kissed skin toneTAN
  31. 55Lithium-___ batteryION
  32. 56Bolt's partnerNUT
  33. 57Miracle-___ (lawn application)GRO

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Perform in plays — Answer: ACT. Hint: Take the stage and bring a character to life 🎭
  2. 4. Something to scratch — Answer: ITCH. Hint: A pesky skin sensation that begs for attention 🖐️
  3. 8. Happy dog's tail movement — Answer: WAG. Hint: Think of the cheerful motion a pup makes with its rear when greeting you 🐶
  4. 11. ___ Paulo, Brazil (anagram of "ASO") — Answer: SAO. Hint: Think of the bustling Brazilian metropolis whose name comes before Paulo. 🌆
  5. 12. Marco ___ (swimming pool game) — Answer: POLO. Hint: Think of the pool game where one player searches while calling out and listening for replies. 🏊
  6. 13. "A Nightmare on ___ Street" (classic horror movie) — Answer: ELM. Hint: Freddy Krueger haunts this tree-lined street in the classic horror film. 🔪
  7. 14. Big gulp, as from a flask — Answer: SWIG. Hint: Think of taking a hearty drink straight from a flask. 🥤
  8. 16. Disorderly pile (rhymes with "leap") — Answer: HEAP. Hint: A messy stack of things that could topple over with a nudge 🌀
  9. 17. Resort where you might wear a robe — Answer: SPA. Hint: Think of a relaxing retreat for massages, saunas, and peaceful pampering 🧖
  10. 18. Toy building block brand — Answer: LEGO. Hint: This colorful brick brand turns simple pieces into castles, cars, and countless creations 🧱
  11. 20. ___ MessagePad, Apple handheld device that originated the term "PDA" when it arrived in 1993, introducing early handwriting recognition tech — Answer: NEWTON. Hint: Think of Apple’s pioneering 1993 handheld that helped popularize the term PDA with handwriting recognition. ✍️
  12. 22. They're from Mars, in a metaphor — Answer: MEN. Hint: Think of the classic saying about how differently men and women communicate. 🚀
  13. 23. Cookie-selling youth organization (anagram of "sag"): Abbr. — Answer: GSA. Hint: Think of the youth group famous for its annual cookie sales, written as an abbreviation 🍪
  14. 24. A ___ in the machine (insignificant) — Answer: COG. Hint: Think of the small gear that helps a larger system keep turning. ⚙️
  15. 27. Word indicating a woman's maiden name — Answer: NEE. Hint: This tiny term appears in biographies to introduce the surname someone had before marriage. 📝
  16. 29. Do laps in a pool, say — Answer: SWIM. Hint: What you might do while practicing strokes at the local aquatic center 🏊
  17. 33. Deserving a thumbs-up — Answer: GOOD. Hint: A simple way to describe something worthy of praise 👍
  18. 35. "And so on," briefly — Answer: ETC. Hint: A compact way to say the list continues 📋
  19. 38. "___ a Barbie girl ...": 2 wds. — Answer: IMA. Hint: Complete the opening phrase of Aqua’s famous bubbly pop lyric. 🎶
  20. 39. Apple music player that famously promised to put "1,000 songs in your pocket" when it arrived in 2001, kicking off the digital music boom — Answer: IPOD. Hint: Think of Apple’s pocket-sized music player that made carrying a whole library feel revolutionary in the early 2000s. 🎵
  21. 40. Baseball Hall of Famer Gehrig — Answer: LOU. Hint: Think of the Yankees legend whose consecutive-games streak earned him a famous nickname. ⚾
  22. 41. Document-sending machine of old — Answer: FAX. Hint: This once-common office machine sent documents through telephone lines 📠
  23. 42. What a flat tire lacks — Answer: AIR. Hint: A puncture leaves this essential ingredient missing. 🛞
  24. 45. Archaeological find — Answer: RELIC. Hint: Think of an ancient object uncovered at a dig site. 🏺
  25. 47. Actor and wrestler ___ "The Rock" Johnson — Answer: DWAYNE. Hint: Think of the first name of this charismatic wrestler-turned-blockbuster star. 🤼
  26. 50. Confidentiality contract: Abbr. — Answer: NDA. Hint: This short agreement legally keeps shared information under wraps 🤫
  27. 51. Software that Apple devices like 4d run on: Abbr. — Answer: IOS. Hint: Apple’s mobile operating system, in abbreviated form, powers iPhones and iPads 📱
  28. 52. Type of "mining" done in Silicon Valley, maybe — Answer: DATA. Hint: Think of extracting valuable information rather than digging through rock. ⛏️
  29. 54. What Adele does onstage — Answer: SING. Hint: Think about what this powerhouse vocalist does with her voice during a concert 🎤
  30. 58. Higher education test: Abbr. — Answer: GRE. Hint: This graduate-school admissions exam is commonly known by its initials 🎓
  31. 59. Apple tablet that became an instant bestseller when it arrived in 2010, popularizing tablets for video playback and reading on the go — Answer: IPAD. Hint: This sleek Apple touchscreen slate helped make portable movies and e-books mainstream. 🍎
  32. 60. Like a lemon — Answer: SOUR. Hint: Think of the puckery taste you get from biting into a lemon 🍋
  33. 61. Jamaican music genre that preceded reggae — Answer: SKA. Hint: Think of Jamaica’s lively, brass-filled sound that paved the way for reggae. 🎺
  34. 62. "This comes ___ surprise": 2 wds. — Answer: ASNO. Hint: Complete the familiar phrase meaning that nothing about this is unexpected. 😲
  35. 63. "I'm ___ you" ("I know what you're doing") — Answer: ONTO. Hint: This phrase tells someone you’ve figured out their sneaky plan. 😉

Down

  1. 1. Another word for "donkey" — Answer: ASS. Hint: This sturdy pack animal has a short, cheeky nickname. 🫏
  2. 2. Crow's cry — Answer: CAW. Hint: It’s the sharp, familiar call of a black-feathered bird. 🐦
  3. 3. Labor relentlessly (rhymes with "soil") — Answer: TOIL. Hint: It means working very hard, often with a sense of strain or repetition. 💪
  4. 4. Apple mobile device that introduced a revolutionary multi-touch screen when it arrived in 2007, pioneering the modern touchscreen era — Answer: IPHONE. Hint: Think of Apple’s pocket-sized 2007 device that turned finger gestures into a daily habit 📱
  5. 5. Wiggly foot part — Answer: TOE. Hint: Give this little foot digit a wiggle to find it. 🦶
  6. 6. Sound made by a bell or gong — Answer: CLANG. Hint: Think of a loud, metallic ringing noise from struck metal 🔔
  7. 7. "Don't get your ___ up" (realist's advice, perhaps) — Answer: HOPES. Hint: A cautious realist might advise you not to expect too much. 🙂
  8. 8. "The Wild Wild ___" — Answer: WEST. Hint: Think of the classic TV title set in the untamed American frontier 🤠
  9. 9. Canned dog food brand (anagram of "opal") — Answer: ALPO. Hint: This familiar pet-food label may be waiting in your pup’s bowl. 🐶
  10. 10. FBI agent, informally: Hyph. — Answer: GMAN. Hint: Think of the casual, hyphenated nickname for a federal investigator. 🕵️
  11. 15. Ruby or emerald, e.g. — Answer: GEM. Hint: Think of a sparkling precious stone prized for its beauty and rarity. 💎
  12. 19. ___-Z (demographic after millennials) — Answer: GEN. Hint: It labels the generation that grew up with smartphones and follows millennials. 📱
  13. 21. "Phew, that ___ a close call!" — Answer: WAS. Hint: Choose the past-tense verb that completes this relieved exclamation about a near miss. 😮‍💨
  14. 24. Technology used in Marvel movies: Abbr. — Answer: CGI. Hint: The digital visual-effects magic that brings superheroes and fantastical worlds to life on screen 🎬
  15. 25. Alley-___ (basketball play) — Answer: OOP. Hint: This basketball move often leads to a crowd-pleasing finish! 🏀
  16. 26. Icky, sticky stuff — Answer: GOO. Hint: Think of the messy, tacky substance that might cling to your fingers. 🫠
  17. 28. Long fish that can be electric or spiny — Answer: EEL. Hint: Think of a slippery swimmer that may deliver a jolt or sport sharp spines. ⚡
  18. 30. Internet connection that's often password-protected: Hyph. — Answer: WIFI. Hint: Think of the wireless network your devices join at home or in cafés 📶
  19. 31. ___ G3, Apple desktop computer that featured a colorful, translucent design when it arrived in 1998, transforming home PCs — Answer: IMAC. Hint: Think of Apple’s famously colorful, translucent desktop that helped redefine home computing in 1998. 🖥️
  20. 32. Highest setting on an AC, for short — Answer: MAX. Hint: Think of the abbreviation for the greatest possible level on your air conditioner. ❄️
  21. 34. WWII turning point: Hyph. — Answer: DDAY. Hint: Think of the famous June 1944 Allied beach invasion that marked a major shift in the war. 🪖
  22. 36. Funnel-shaped windstorm — Answer: TORNADO. Hint: A powerful spinning column of air that can sweep across the ground 🌪️
  23. 37. Signaled on stage — Answer: CUED. Hint: A stage manager might have done this to let a performer know it was their moment. 🎭
  24. 43. World's most populous country — Answer: INDIA. Hint: Think of the South Asian nation known for its vast population and vibrant diversity. 🌏
  25. 44. Acquires, as profit — Answer: REAPS. Hint: Gathers the rewards earned from an investment or effort 🌾
  26. 46. Rancher's rope — Answer: LASSO. Hint: A cowboy might swing this loop overhead to catch a runaway calf 🤠
  27. 47. Uses a shovel, say — Answer: DIGS. Hint: What someone does when moving soil with a spade 🪏
  28. 48. "All ___ and no play ..." — Answer: WORK. Hint: The saying contrasts this with play, describing what keeps you busy and productive. 💼
  29. 49. Out on the ocean — Answer: ASEA. Hint: Sailors might describe themselves this way when they’re far from land. 🌊
  30. 53. Sun-kissed skin tone — Answer: TAN. Hint: Think of the warm, golden shade skin may develop after time in the sunshine. ☀️
  31. 55. Lithium-___ battery — Answer: ION. Hint: This rechargeable battery relies on charged particles moving between its electrodes. 🔋
  32. 56. Bolt's partner — Answer: NUT. Hint: Think of the small hardware piece that screws onto a threaded fastener. 🔩
  33. 57. Miracle-___ (lawn application) — Answer: GRO. Hint: This lawn booster is the familiar plant-food brand associated with helping greenery flourish. 🌱

The answer to “What a flat tire lacks” in the Daily Themed crossword is AIR — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Daily Themed crossword on August 15, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 42-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“What a flat tire lacks” answer

AIR (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is AIR.

What does AIR mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of AIR is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen
  • an impression of a quality or manner given by someone or something
  • a tune or short melodious song

When else has “What a flat tire lacks” appeared?

Daily Themed reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 15, 2026 (most recent) → AIR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “What a flat tire lacks”?

The answer is AIR, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Daily Themed crossword on August 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “What a flat tire lacks”?

3 letters: AIR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Daily Themed crossword on August 15, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 42-Across.

Can “What a flat tire lacks” have a different answer?

Yes — Daily Themed sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Daily Themed Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 15, 2026 is on the Daily Themed Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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