Nail in my tire but not flat

The tire is a circular shaped piece of rubber that covers the wheel and enables the vehicle to drive, and enhances the performance of the vehicle. The tire also provides traction and absorbs shock while you are driving down the...

The tire is a circular shaped piece of rubber that covers the wheel and enables the vehicle to drive, and enhances the performance of the vehicle. The tire also provides traction and absorbs shock while you are driving down the road. The most common materials that tires are made of include: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, fabric, and wire. Over time, tires pick up rocks, nails, screws, and other things that can potentially cause problems and holes. If you have a nail in your tire, it is time to have a professional look at your vehicle. It may be safe to drive a short distance, but not much more than that.

Here's what you should know if you encounter a nail in your tire:

  • The first thing to do if you notice a nail in your tire is do not touch it. If the nail is deep enough, it can plug the hole so air does not leak from the tire. As soon as you notice the nail, contact a tire store so you can get your tire repaired. If you do not get your tire repaired soon, the tire could blowout causing an even bigger problem. A blowout causes a dangerous situation as you can potentially lose control of your vehicle.

  • If for some reason you are unable to get to the tire store, know that the longer you drive with a nail in your tire, the worse it can get. Driving a short distance to the tire store is okay, but commuting to work is not.

  • If the hole is small enough, the store may be able to repair the hole instead of having to replace the entire tire. Plugging tires is a much simpler fix than replacing the entire tire. Yet, if you drove on your tire too long, the nail could have caused more damaged over time, making it impossible for the store to plug the tire. Instead, they may have to change out the entire tire, which is more extensive.

As soon as you notice a nail in your tire, contact a tire store to have your tire inspected. Driving with a hole in your tire is potentially dangerous and could cause a blowout. Furthermore, driving too long with the nail can ruin the tire so you will have to replace the entire tire, instead of having a small piece plugged.



The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Excellent Rating


Rating Summary

Nicholas

11 years of experience

585 reviews

Nicholas

11 years of experience

Toyota Camry V6-3.0L - Spare Tire Installation - Knightdale, North Carolina

Nicholas finished an earlier appointment which enabled him to come by earlier than originally scheduled. I'm very grateful he chose to reschedule. While replacing a flat with my donut spare, he instructed me on how to safely drive to the tire shop for the repair. More importantly to have the shop add air to the donut spare. Nicholas did an excellent job. He as very professional. Thank you

Ford E-150 Econoline - Spare Tire Installation - Durham, North Carolina

I was VERY pleased with Nicholas' expertise and was more than delighted that he was so prompt. He was very polite and friendly, and he did a marvelous job. If I ever need any repairs to my vehicle in the future, I would definitely ask for Nicholas.

Luis

29 years of experience

91 reviews

Luis

29 years of experience

Toyota Prius L4-1.5L Hybrid - Spare Tire Installation - Prospect Heights, Illinois

Luis attended my car today and help in fixing the issue quickly. He is nice and friendly guy. I will recommend him for any services.

Hugh

11 years of experience

106 reviews

Hugh

11 years of experience

Toyota FJ Cruiser V6-4.0L - Spare Tire Installation - Castle Rock, Colorado

Hugh came to change out a flat tire for my spare today. I have to say that I feel sheepish for calling someone to come help because I know how to change a tire but I was at work and on shift until 2 am and he came to my place of work. Instead of just installing my spare, he took the time to evaluate the situation. I had a nail in my tire and he took the tire to get patched and my vehicle drove better on my way home than when I left this morning. It was snowing sideways when he showed up to help me. He was a bit of a godsend in the moment and I would recommend him to anyone. I was just distressed because I did not have enough tip to give this guy for overachieving when I needed it. Huge five star review. I only hope to pay his generosity forward. He was more than worth the cost and he did a phenomenal job.

Jonathan

26 years of experience

88 reviews

Jonathan

26 years of experience

Honda Civic L4-1.7L - Spare Tire Installation - Smyrna, Georgia

Jonathan was very punctual, friendly, and transparent. He clearly explained everything he did and provided detail about any additional work he recommended. Great work!

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Can I leave a nail in my tire if its not leaking?

If you get a Nail in your tire, you should remove it as soon as possible. You can drive short distances with a nail in your tire but you should not just leave it there and continue to drive for a long period of time. It is very unsafe for not only you but the other drivers you share the road with as well.

How long will a tire last with a nail in it?

The life of a tire after plugging can last from 7-10 years or 25,000 miles; no one can be sure that there will not be any problems. Plugging in tires will be a good idea, even effective if the wheel is in an emergency that needs to be moved.

Is it OK to drive with nail in tire?

If the nail is little and the tire is still retaining air, then yes, it is okay to drive with it in your tire. It's common for drivers to run over nails without even noticing it. If the nail is huge and the tire is losing air quickly, it's best to take it to a tire shop rather than try to fix it yourself.

When can a nail in tire not be fixed?

Puncture repairs are limited to the center of the tread area. If there are punctures or damage in the shoulder or sidewall of the tire, it is not repairable.