How Do Nails And Screws End Up In Tires
One common question we get from customers is, How do screws puncture tires? Whether from roadside construction or tool-filled trucks, nails and screws end up on the road far too often. What confuses drivers most is how they end up in tires. You might think your tire would roll over nails and screws on the roadso why is this such a common problem? There are a few reasons why tires and nails so often clash on the road:
- Road shoulders: Nails and other hazards often live on the shoulders of the roads. If you pull over or veer off course for even a moment, your tire is likely to find a hazard waiting. Additionally, nails on the bumpy shoulder of a road do not lay very flat, making it easier to penetrate your tire.
- Tires kicking up nails: Nails can find your front tires after being kicked up by a vehicle in front of you. Driving with a little extra distance between cars can help keep your vehicle protected from these kinds of hazards. Meanwhile, nails can easily find your back tires after being kicked up by your front tires.
- Driveways and side streets: Nails can be surprisingly common in drivewaysespecially when visiting a home that was recently renovated. Your tires might also be more prone to obstructions if you live in an area with lots of construction.
Professional Tire Patching Service
The best possible solution is to bring your vehicle to an expert for patching service. A professional can quickly find the puncture, remove the nail/screw, patch your tire, and refill your tire with air. This service provides a reliable repair without any of the hassles or risks associated with the alternative solutions. How much does professional tire patching cost? At Chapel Hill Tire, our local tire patching flat repair services are just $25.
Nail In Tire How Long Will It Last
In most cases, having a nail stuck in the tire means that the same nail prevents the air from leaking completely. However, note that it will still gradually leak out, so it is necessary to have it repaired.
Once punctured by a nail, a tire will already be in a compromised state. Even if you have it repaired, the question here is, will it still be useful at all. You need to figure out if your tire is still repairable or if you need to get new tires.
Here is a quick guide to give you an idea of what to do:
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Can I Drive With A Nail Puncture In My Tire
If you have a punctured tire due to a nail, have your car tire repaired or replaced immediately.
You may be able to drive short distances. But its not safe to drive with a nail in your tire tread as it can quickly turn into a flat tire making you susceptible to blowouts and severe accidents.
This is why you should always carry a spare tire.
Its also essential to shop tires with a good tire warranty for longevity. To do so, choose a good tire manufacturer like BFGoodrich Tires or Bridgestone.
Finally, routine services like tire rotation and following good driving tips like gentle braking will help your tires last longer too. So if you suspect a nail in your tire tread, contact a tire shop or mechanic ASAP. Theyll help you repair or procure new tires with a good tire warranty.
So how do you fix a nail in your tire?Lets find out!
Helpful Precautions And Preventive Measures
As mentioned earlier, you need to fulfill many conditions for a nail lying down on the road to puncture your tires. However, remember that it does happen quite often, and you cannot predict when it will happen to you.
Fortunately, there are certain things that you can do to prevent getting a flat tire due to running over a nail:
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How To Drive Safely With A Spare Tire
If you have to apply your spare tire, its important that you know how to drive safely. Spare tires arent as sturdy as a regular tire, so precautions need to be taken.Napas Know How Blogoffers these safety tips for driving with a spare on your vehicle:
- Restrict your speed. Most tire manufacturers recommend not driving faster than 50 miles per hour on a spare. If you have to get on the highway, be sure you stay in the right lane to allow other cars to pass you as needed. Depending on the laws in your states, you might be allowed to drive with the hazard lights on to warn other drivers that you are driving an impaired vehicle.
- Limit your distance. Along with not driving as fast as you typically would, you need to limit how far you drive. When you have a spare on your car, you shouldnt drive more than 70 miles, or the distance stated in your cars owners manual.
- Know the affected systems. When you put a donut spare on your car, the wheel-speed sensor might detect the difference and light up your dash with brake and ABS warning lights. This is caused by the spare rotating faster than regular tires, and the sensors will detect a problem.
- Handle with care. With the ABS system compromised, youll need to be sure to drive extra safely, not driving with cruise control and taking curves with extreme caution.
Five: Enlarge The Hole
If the hole is larger than a pencil, skip this step. If not, grab your tire-repair kits reamer, and use it to enlarge the hole until it is roughly the size of a pencil.
If you have a very small hole, this will be difficult at first. Install the reaming tool by slowly screwing it into the tread while applying downward pressure. Otherwise, just push the tool into the hole all the way up to the handle, then yank it out. Repeat until the hole is large enough that you can insert and remove the tool without much effort.
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When Can You Patch Up A Flat Tire
Again, these are quick fixes that aren’t meant to enable long-term use of a punctured or damaged tire. When considering a flat tire patch or replacement, remember that a patch doesn’t fill in the hole left by a puncture while a plug doesn’t offer a permanent seal. In short, patching or plugging alone are never adequate long-term solutions. That’s why at Firestone, our technicians can use a patch-plug combo to provide an adequate long-term solution for some tire punctures.
Punctures On The Shoulder
All tires have two main tread sections. The tires contact patch is the centermost portion of the tread between the outer tread channels â the circumferential grooves in the tires. The tires shoulder is the area between the outermost channels and each sidewall.
The tire shoulders not only endure a lot of stress, they also have a slight curve to them, making them unsuitable for patches or plugs. If your puncture is in the shoulder, the tire is not repairable, making your only option a new tire.
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Expert Flat Tire Repair & Tire Patch
Nothing is worse than rushing out the door in the morning, trying to get somewhere on time and seeing a flat tire. Thankfully, the highly-trained tire repair experts at Mavis Discount Tire are ready and able to quickly patch your tire and get you back on the road!
Looking for reliable flat tire repair near you? Find a Mavis Discount Tire location in your area and schedule an appointment online, or call .
Taking Care Of Your Tires
To ensure your tire is safely repaired or replaced, it’s best to have it inspected and serviced by a trained technician. Visit your local Firestone Complete Auto Care and ask about our tire repair services. Your safety is our priority, and we back all of our work with a triple promise that guarantees your repair will be Fixed Right, Priced Right, Right on time.
Now that you know when to repair vs. replace a car tire, schedule your appointment today!
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Dont Pull The Nail Out
Once you found the offending nail, do not pull it out. The nail might be the only thing that is keeping all the air inside the tire from escaping. If you have a spare tire, then change it immediately. If you do not have one, then you need to decide whether you can still drive to the nearest service station or have a tow truck take you there.
Can You Repair Tires That Have Existing Repairs
Repaired tires can often be mended again if the damage doesn’t compromise a previously repaired area. For example, if you have a nail-in-tire situation, you may be able to do a quick repair if the puncture location doesn’t overlap with a previous tire injury and the repair was done properly. If it does overlap, you will likely need a replacement.
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What To Do If You Have A Nail In Your Tire
You may hear a rhythmic clicking sound as you drive. You might see something shiny poking out of your otherwise normal-looking tire. Or maybe you’ll hear a hissing sound.
These are all signs that theres a nail in your tire, a problem that may seem minor but really needs attention. That little piece of metal could soon leave you on the side of the road, trying to figure out how to change a flat.
Heres what to do if you believe your tire has picked up an unwanted passenger.
Can The Tire Be Repaired
The nails location plays a big role in whether a tire can be fixed, but its not the only factor. If the tire has already been damaged repeatedly, or if its worn out, youll need to get a new tire.
Repairing a tire may involve removing it from the wheel and then installing a plug and a patch. The plug fills the hole made by the nail, and the patch acts as a pressure seal to keep the air inside the tire. Some shops may use only a plug while others may use just a patch. Once the repair is made, the tire is put back on and balanced, and you can be on your way.
If you have to buy a replacement tire, youll want it to match the brand and size of the others already on your car.
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The Potential For A Blowout Is High
Running on a punctured tire increases the chance of a tire blowout. It is when the tire literally blows to pieces. A tire blowout increases your risk of losing control over your vehicle and potentially harming the other cars and pedestrians on the road.
If you need to drive on a punctured tire, do so with increased caution. Do not drive at the speeds that you usually do, and park your vehicle as soon as humanly possible.
How To Fix A Tire With A Nail In It
It is very important to limit your driving on your affected tire. Nails in tires pose both a risk to you as well as a risk to other drivers on the road. Punctured tires can lead to loss of vehicle control, create debris, and possibly cause a full rupture of your tire.
You should drive the absolute minimum amount on your turn before you fix the hole. Additionally, monitor your air pressure as you drive using your car’s built-in sensors or by using a pressure gauge.
Once you finish plugging your tire, it, unfortunately, will be your only chance to plug that tire. It is recommended by mechanics that you limit plugging your tire only once for your safety to prevent any unexpected rupturing of your tire. Plugging your tire should hold for the duration of the tire’s life however, occasional inspections of plug and air pressure are recommended.
Plugging your tire is an easy and inexpensive fix for a nail in your tire, but should not be prioritized as the method of choice if there is substantial damage to your tire. In this case, have your car towed to a certified mechanic to ensure your safety.
If the damage to your tire is minimal and won’t pose an immediate threat to you or drivers around you, use your tire plugging kit. Tire repair kits include everything you need in them, and there are plenty of options available.
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Can Tires With Side Bubbles Be Repaired
If you notice a bubble in your tire’s sidewall, this has likely been incurred by high-impact damage. Factors like driving on a flat, hitting a pothole or curb the wrong way, riding over speed bumps or railroad crossings too quickly, or overloading your tires can all lead to this issue. Although this tiny bulge may not seem intimidating, tires with side bubbles are not repairable, and you should have the tire replaced as soon as possible.
How To Remove A Nail From Your Tire
Those that already have a nail in their tire will be pleased to know that it is fairly easy to remove a nail from a tire that it has punctured.
First, arm yourself with a kit that is specially designed to patch up holes in your tires. This kit could also be sold as a plug and patch kit which are always readily available in auto shops and car outfitters. These kits are handy to have in your arsenal even before you may have suffered from a punctured tire as the plug part of the kit allows users to fill the hole that is there when a nail is removed. A tire plug kit will ordinarily come with a number of items in each pack they will be tire plugs, an insertion needle, and a rasp tool.
When you have your kit, take out the nail with a pair of pliers from your toolkit. You may have to remove your tire to get better access to the nail. It may not come out easily so be prepared to tug as hard as you can. However, if you are really struggling, you can try to use a screwdriver or a similar item that has a sharp or pointed end to it. If you need to use a screwdriver, you will need to run around the edge of the nail head to loosen it slowly until you can finally use your pliers to pull the nail out.
Then, when you have finally managed to remove it, follow the instructions on your kit to plug the hole as best you can and then patch it so the plug remains safe. In the main, each kit will have a slight variation of the following steps:
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How To Plug A Tire And Quickly Fix Your Flat
If youve got a flat tire, you may be able to save money by repairing it with a plug instead of buying a new tire. This guide shows you how to make this simple, inexpensive repair in about 15 minutes. First, check to see where the puncture is. If its in the sidewall, do not plug the leak. Your tires sidewall is under different strains and pressures than the part that makes contact with the road. Plugging a sidewall can result in a blowout, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Get a tire repair kit. You can get these at any auto parts store and many department stores that sell auto maintenance supplies, like Walmart. The price should be less than $10. Or try this Dynaplug tool.
How To Remove A Nail From A Tire
Now as we said above, this guide is for those whove found themselves with a punctured tire that still has some life in it. If a nail or screw made your tire go flat immediately, we recommend heading to your local auto service center to get your tire replaced entirely.
Follow these steps to remove a nail from your tire and patch it up at home:
Supplies: pliers, plug and patch kit
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Insert The Plug Strip
- Slide your plug insertion tool slowly into the hole in your tire. Youll need to press really hard to get the plug into the hole.
- When the plug is inserted deeply enough that only about an inch of it is sticking out of the tire, carefully pull the handle of your plug insertion tool straight up. The slot in the end of the tools eyelet should allow it to slide free, leaving the plug in the tire.
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