Isla Bennett
It is not uncommon for nails and screws to end up on roads and for them to get stuck in car tires. The chances of a nail entering a tire are high enough that drivers should be aware of the risks and know what to do if it happens. Driving with a nail in a tire can be dangerous and can cause a blowout, so it is important to know how to handle the situation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Probability of a nail entering a tire | Common |
| Factors determining the impact of a nail in a tire | Size of the nail, Rate of air loss, Location of the puncture, Size of the puncture |
| Actions to take if a nail enters a tire | Check tire pressure, use an electric tire inflator, Replace with a spare, Call for a tow, use a tire plug kit, get it patched or repaired by a professional |
| Consequences of ignoring a nail in a tire | Loss of control of the vehicle, serious accident, tire blowout, further damage to the tire, damage to the vehicle's suspension system |
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What You'll Learn
Driving with a nail in your tire
It is not uncommon for nails and screws to end up on the roads and for them to end up in your tires. While it is possible to drive with a nail embedded in your tire, it is not recommended. The best course of action is to address the problem as soon as possible.
If the nail has caused a puncture and your tire is flat, it is not safe to drive. If the puncture is severe, you will need to replace your tire immediately. If the puncture is minor, you may be able to drive a short distance to a repair shop to get it fixed. However, if you do choose to drive with a nail in your tire, keep a close eye on your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warning light. Driving on low tire pressure can cause your tire to overheat and result in a blowout.
If your tire has a nail in it but is not flat, you should still get it repaired as soon as possible. Even if the nail is wedged in such a way that air is not escaping, driving with a nail in your tire can cause damage to the sidewall, and the puncture could become more serious. Short journeys of under 20 miles are generally considered safe, but this depends on the severity of the puncture and how much air is leaking. If you are unsure, it is best to replace the wheel with your spare tire or call for roadside assistance.
The puncture's size and location will determine whether you can patch your tire. If the hole is small and located in the tread, it should be easy to patch. If the hole is large or located in the sidewall or shoulder of the tire, it may be possible to plug the tire, but it will need to be replaced eventually. It is crucial to get your tire repaired by a professional to ensure it is done correctly and safely.
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Tire pressure and nails
It is not uncommon for nails and screws to end up on the roads and get stuck in your tires. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to take immediate action to ensure your safety and that of other drivers on the road.
The first step is to assess the damage. Check if there is a loss of tire pressure by monitoring the tire daily for 3-4 days. Even if there is no immediate loss of pressure, a puncture will leak out slowly, making the tire softer and increasing rolling resistance on that side. This can cause steering issues and make it difficult to drive straight. The longer you drive with a nail in your tire, the higher the risk of losing control of your vehicle.
If there is a significant loss of pressure or a flat tire, you should not attempt to drive the vehicle. Instead, replace the wheel with your spare tire, call for roadside assistance, or use a portable tire inflator to drive to the nearest repair shop. Short journeys under 20 miles are manageable if you cannot get a spare tire or assistance right away.
If the nail is embedded in your tire and there is no noticeable loss of tire pressure, you can carefully drive to a repair shop to get it inspected and fixed properly. It is crucial to monitor the tire pressure during this trip, as even a small puncture will cause some loss of pressure over time.
To prevent further damage and ensure your safety, it is always best to get your tire repaired or replaced by a professional as soon as possible. Incorrect tire repair can be dangerous, so ensure the repair shop is equipped with the right skills, tools, and expertise to handle tire punctures.
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Repairing a nail-punctured tire
It is quite common for nails and screws to end up on the roads and get stuck in your tires. If you have a nail stuck in your tire, it is important to check the pressure to ensure air isn't leaving the tire rapidly. If the tire pressure is low, you should put on the spare tire right away and get the punctured tire repaired or replaced by a professional. If the pressure is only slightly low, you can fill the tire with air and drive to the nearest repair shop.
If the nail has made a hole in the sidewall or shoulder of the tire, it is permanently damaged and will need to be replaced. However, if the puncture is in the middle or "crown" area of the tire, it can be repaired. The only way to properly repair a tire is to remove it from the wheel, inspect the puncture, remove the damaged material, fill the puncture with a rubber stem or plug, and seal the inner liner with a patch. This is known as a combination repair or a patch/plug repair.
It is important to get your tire repaired properly by a professional to ensure your safety and that of other drivers on the road. An incorrectly repaired tire can be dangerous. If you are driving and notice symptoms of a tire puncture, such as air pressure loss, steering issues, or the tire looking flat, you should activate your hazard lights and carefully pull over at the nearest safe place. Short journeys of under 20 miles are possible with a nail in your tire, but it is not recommended to drive for too long with a punctured tire as it can cause a blowout or ruin the tire completely.
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When to replace a nail-punctured tire
It is common for nails and screws to end up on the road and get stuck in your tires. If you have a nail embedded in your tire, you should check whether you are losing tire pressure. If the tire is not losing pressure, you can drive a short distance—under 20 miles—to get to a repair shop. If the tire is losing pressure, you should swap it out with a spare or call for roadside assistance.
If the nail has punctured the sidewall or shoulder of the tire, it will need to be replaced, as this type of damage is considered permanent. Tire repairs are not recommended for the sidewall or shoulder of a tire, as this can be unsafe. Repairs can be considered for punctures no larger than 1/4 of an inch. If the puncture is greater than 1/4 of an inch in diameter, it is safer to replace the tire.
If the puncture is in the tread of the tire, it may be repairable. A patch/plug combination is the best way to fix a puncture by a nail. A plug can be put into the hole to stop the leak, and the patch seals the damaged area. However, this is not a long-term solution, and a properly installed plug can last up to 10 years or 25,000 miles.
If there are multiple punctures, they must be at least 16 inches apart to be repairable. If the punctures are closer together, the tire will need to be replaced.
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Causes of nails in tires
It is very common for nails to end up on roads and neighbourhood streets. Nails can get tossed aside during construction or fall out of open-ended pickup trucks. If a car in front of you kicks up a nail, it can easily get lodged in one of your tires. Similarly, your back tires are likely to catch a nail if it is kicked up by your front tires. If your tire gets too close to the edge of the road, it can easily find nails that have been left behind.
The rubber material around your wheels will often pick up pebbles, debris, or gravel, which is perfectly normal and usually won’t cause any damage. However, foreign objects such as nails and screws can also end up on the road and get stuck in your tires.
If a nail is embedded in your tire and you aren't losing tire pressure, you should be okay to make a brief trip to a repair shop to assess the damage. Short journeys under 20 miles are doable, but if you don’t want to take the risk, replace the wheel with your spare tire or call a tow truck for help transporting your vehicle. If your tire pressure is low, you should put on the spare right away until you can get it repaired or replaced by a professional. If you’re lucky and the tire pressure is only slightly low, fill the tire with air and head over to a repair shop to get it fixed properly.
If a nail makes a hole in the sidewall or shoulder of a tire, it is permanently damaged and will need to be replaced. A nail in your tire can be overlooked, and it can be hard to tell the damage. Continuing to drive on a tire with a nail can ruin your tires and cause more harm to your vehicle.
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Frequently asked questions
If the nail is embedded in your tire and you are not losing tire pressure, you can drive a short distance to a repair shop. If you are losing tire pressure, you should replace the wheel with your spare tire or call a tow truck.
Yes and no. You can drive with a nail in your tire as long as the tire is not flat. However, the longer you drive, the higher the risk of losing control of your vehicle. Driving with a nail in your tire, especially at high speeds, can increase your chances of a tire blowout.
Common symptoms of a tire punctured by a nail include air pressure loss, steering issues, and the tire looking flat. You may also notice a hissing sound while near your tire or a metal clicking sound while driving.
If you don't get a punctured tire repaired in time, your tire could blow out or be ruined completely. Depending on the location of the puncture, a nail in a tire can permanently ruin the tire.
