While, yes, you can drive with a nail, screw or other object in your tire, you can only do so for a short amount of time — and only if your tire isn’t flat. How long you can continue driving will depend on how severe the puncture is and how quickly the air is leaking out.
Soon after the puncture, you’ll need to either patch or replace the damaged tire to avoid additional risks and potential issues. Here are some problems you could experience when driving with a nail in your tire.
Air Leakage Leading to Tire Damage
When a sharp object, like a nail, screw or piece of metal, pierces the tire’s tread or sidewall, the air in your tire can escape through that hole, although it might not be immediately visible or apparent. As air leaks out, the tire’s pressure drops. This reduces performance and increases rolling resistance as the tire gets flatter. Over time, this will affect your vehicle’s handling, braking and overall safety, and could result in a sudden or eventual flat due to excessive air loss.
Loss of Control and Handling Issues
Handling becomes more challenging with low tire pressure, especially during turns or emergency maneuvers. If you let a nail stay in your tire for too long and get into a tricky situation, the handling issues and loss of control could lead to an accident, endangering not only your life but also the lives of passengers, pedestrians and other drivers.
Potential for Further Damage
Continuing to drive on a tire with a nail can cause more issues than you might expect. As you drive, the nail could move or shift within the tire, causing additional damage to the internal structure. This can lead to sidewall or belt damage, turning what could be a quick, inexpensive patch into a costly full tire replacement situation.
What to Do if You Find a Nail in Your Tire
In some situations, you might not immediately notice when a nail or screw punctures your tire, so it’s important to regularly check that your tires haven’t acquired any unwanted accessories or hardware.
If you notice a nail but don’t notice any air loss, take your car to an automotive professional that you trust with your tires. If the puncture is small and located in the tread area, a tire technician or specialist might be able to repair it. If the puncture is in a less ideal location, you may need to replace the damaged tire.
In other situations, your tire pressure light might suddenly illuminate, and you’ll often be able to tell by the feel of your vehicle that your tire is losing pressure or, worst case, that it’s already flat. Turn on your hazards, slow down, and, when it’s safe to do so, pull over to a safe place. Next, go through the following steps:
Inspect the tire: Carefully inspect the damage to assess its severity. Be aware of your surroundings when doing this. Keep in mind that if you don’t see the cause of the lost pressure or flat right away, you might have to roll the car forward slightly once or twice to get a full, proper view of the tire. Do not remove the object puncturing your tire! This is a sure way to end up with a flat, as the object lodged in the tire can actually serve as a temporary — albeit imperfect — seal. Removing it before you’re ready to repair or replace the tire will only accelerate the loss of air.
Refrain from driving: While it is possible to drive on a tire with a nail in it, most tire specialists would generally advise you to avoid putting additional unnecessary stress on the punctured tire. However, depending on the severity of the damage, you might be able to reach a nearby auto or tire shop or move to a safer location before calling for help.
Change to your spare: In instances where the loss of pressure is severe or you have a flat tire, having a spare tire can save you the expense of a tow. If you’re in a safe enough location, have a spare tire and know how to change it out safely, go ahead and change it. If for some reason you cannot complete this step, move to the next one.
Seek Professional Assistance: Contact a professional tire service or roadside assistance to assess the damage and determine the appropriate course of action. If you were able to change to your spare, this isn’t as urgent. Remember, however, that a spare can only last so long, and it’s not good for highway driving.
Repair or replace: If the puncture is small and located in the tread area, a professional might be able to repair it with a quick an inexpensive patch. Some people may even feel confident purchasing and using a tire patch kit. However, if the damage is extensive or in the sidewall, replacing the tire is often the safest option.
TLDR? Here’s a Summary
Yes, you can, but seek help from a tire technician ASAP.
If you discover a nail in your tire, avoid or at least minimize driving on it, and get it repaired or replaced, if necessary, as soon as possible. Technically, you can drive with a nail in your tire for a short amount of time if there isn’t significant air loss. Do not attempt to remove the object that punctured your tire.
In every situation where you have a nail puncture, you need to get your tire repaired or replaced quickly, to prevent further damage and unnecessary risk on the road.
If you are unsure about the condition of your tire, it is always safer to have a professional inspect it and determine the best course of action.
Is your vehicle limping around with a punctured tire? Call or click today to schedule an appointment with Fairbanks’s local tire specialists at Metropolitan Garage.
