Nail in Tire? Now What?

Drivers in the St. Charles, St. Louis, and O'Fallon areas know that there are many ways that they can prevent their tires from being damaged. Most notably, avoiding pot holes is the most popular one. But what happens when there's a nail in tire? Well, our team at St. Charles Nissan is here to help answer that question so you can be prepared if this situation ever happens to you. 

How Did the Nail Get There?

There are many factors that could lead to a nail in tires. While it's unlikely that someone intentionally placed it under your tire, there are some ways that would surprise you. Most commonly, the nail was accidentally left behind, or fell from a construction vehicle and landed in the street. The nail could've been driven over several times before it made its way into your tire.

Where Is the Nail?

Before attempting to pull it out, or contacting your service center, you should assess the situation first. You need to see where it penetrated your tire. If it's in the center of the tread, your tire can be saved. Just simply contact your dealership to pull the nail and plug the tire. However, if the nail in the tire is closer to the side, it won't be able to get patched and you'll have to invest in a replacement tire.

Can I Drive with a Nail in My Tire?

Driving with a nail in tires all depends on the status of your tire. If your tire is slowly leaking air, the chances are high that you can make it to a service center before losing too much air and tire pressure. If the tire is visibly deflating at a fast rate, you probably shouldn't drive on it. Driving on a flattening tire can cause even more damage than just air loss.

Can the Tire Be Repaired?

If the nail penetrated the tire's thread in the center, then yes, it can be repaired. Your technician will pull the nail out, plug the hole, and patch it. If the nail came out during your trip to the service center, the technician will spray the tire with water because the spot that was punctured will start to bubble out, which is easy to find. 

Should I Repair the Tire Myself?

While the fix is relatively simple, you should definitely seek out professional service for a nail in tire repair. The process requires you to remove the tire from your vehicle and use specialized tools to plug the hole and patch the tires. However, these types of tire repairs are relatively cheap, so you won't have to worry about forking over a lot of money to save your tire.

It's never fun dealing with a nail in tire, but depending on where it penetrated your tire, it may not be a serious issue. However, even if it's a minor poke, you'll still want to see out assistance to help fix your tire and prevent it from deflating. You can always call us at St. Charles Nissan. Our technicians will happily correct the issue so you can continue to drive around worry-free.

St. Charles Nissan is always happy to help a lending hand to drivers in the St. Charles, St. Louis, and O'Fallon areas.