Can You Drive on the Highway with a Nail in the Tire Without Air Leakage?
3 Answers
No. Here are the precautions for maintaining car tires: 1. Pay attention to tire pressure: Pressure is the lifeblood of tires. Both too high and too low pressure will shorten their service life. Low pressure increases tire body deformation, leading to cracks on the sidewalls and flexing movements, which cause excessive heat, accelerate rubber aging, fatigue the fabric layer, and break the cords. Low pressure also increases the tire's contact area, accelerating shoulder wear. High pressure overstretches the tire cords, reduces tire elasticity, increases the load on the car while driving, and may cause internal cracks and blowouts upon impact. High pressure also accelerates tread wear and reduces puncture resistance. 2. Regularly check front wheel alignment: Front wheel alignment significantly affects tire lifespan. Excessive front wheel camber mainly accelerates shoulder wear, while incorrect toe-in (too small or too large) mainly accelerates wear on the inner and outer sides of the tire. 3. Be mindful of your driving style: Drivers should choose smooth roads, avoid sharp objects like stones, glass, and metal that can puncture or scratch tires, and steer clear of chemical spills that can adhere to and corrode tires. When driving on highly arched roads, try to stay in the middle to reduce uneven tire wear caused by increased load on one side. Generally, overloading by 20% reduces tire life by 30%, and overloading by 40% reduces it by 50%.
I've encountered this situation before where a tire gets punctured by a nail but doesn't lose air, and the surface looks fine. However, if you're planning to drive on the highway, I definitely wouldn't recommend it. The nail might temporarily seal the hole, but during high-speed driving, the tire temperature rises, and the wind resistance is significant. Pressure changes can loosen the nail or worsen the damage. If a sudden blowout occurs, the car could lose control, which is extremely dangerous. I advise against taking the risk. It's better to drive slowly to the nearest repair shop for an inspection. If the nail is deep or there's damage to the tire sidewall, it needs to be repaired or replaced. For daily driving, it's also important to regularly check for tire wear and foreign objects—early detection and handling make for safer driving.
Last month, my friend's car had a nail in the tire but didn't lose air, so he thought it was a minor issue. After driving dozens of kilometers on the highway, he heard an abnormal noise and stopped to find the tire slowly leaking. Fortunately, nothing serious happened. I believe in such situations, it's best to drive slowly to a repair shop rather than speeding on the highway. Although the nail may temporarily block the hole, high-speed bumps or high temperatures can dislodge it, increasing the risk of air leakage. Whenever I find a nail in my tire, I deal with it immediately to avoid major trouble, and the repair isn't expensive. It's also good practice to regularly check the tire condition when parking.
