Whether you’re driving through construction or parking on the street in front of your house, there are many innocent ways you can damage your tires. Of all the debris you can drive over, nails are among the worst offenders. A nail in one of your tires doesn’t automatically make it go flat. However, it does not mean the rubber isn’t compromised. Before you make an appointment at the local auto body shop, learn what initial steps to take after driving over a nail for safer, more secure driving.

There’s A Nail In One Of My Car Tires--Now What?

First Steps

Inspect your tire as soon as possible after driving over a nail. The nail may not be big enough to hit the auto part’s inner liner, or it could have punctured the rubber and the liner without creating an air leak. Look for signs of leaks, such as hissing noises and visible deflation, while also checking the tire’s current pressure with a gauge tool. If the pressure is low, install a donut, if you have one, or call your roadside assistance service to do the work for you to avoid driving with a flat.

If the pressure is relatively standard, it is possible to drive without incident to your local auto repair center. This is especially true of run-flat tires with reinforced sidewalls, as you can drive up to 50 miles, going no more than 50 miles an hour, with a nail.

Even if the damage seems minimal, it is never a good idea to keep driving with a nail because a flat or blowout could still occur at any time, especially if the tires are older and have thinning tread and weak sidewalls.

How To Solve The Problem

Do not try to remove the nail yourself. Drive your vehicle or get it towed to a trusted auto repair center to determine whether replacement is necessary. Depending on the location and size of the puncture, the technicians may be able to remove the nail and seal the hole with quality plugs and patches. The plug fills the hole while the patch maintains the correct pressure.

Holes bigger than one-fourth or one-half inches generally cannot be repaired and call for replacement services. The replacement must be the same brand as the other tires to avoid misalignments and uneven wear. 

New and quality used tires from Warrenton Tire & Muffler provide the solution you need after driving over a nail or any other sharp object. The family-owned auto repair shop has served Warren and Warrenton, MO, as well as the surrounding areas for nearly 40 years, and sells brands such as Michelin®, Uniroyal®, Bridgestone®, Cooper®, Goodyear®, and Firestone®. Call (636) 456-4355 today to schedule an appointment or learn more about products and services online. Get the latest auto maintenance tips on Facebook.