Do I need to replace the tire if it is punctured by a nail?
4 Answers
Tires punctured by nails must be replaced. Relevant information on tire replacement is as follows: 1. The importance of tires: Tires are a crucial component of a car and also a wearable part that needs regular replacement. Tires are the only part of the car that comes into contact with the ground, affecting the driving stability and handling of the vehicle. 2. Tires need to be replaced regularly: Tires are rubber products that will age and wear out over time, so they need to be replaced periodically. Under normal circumstances, tires installed on a car can be used. After installing new tires, it is essential to perform a dynamic balance test for each wheel to avoid abnormal vibrations during high-speed driving.
Don't panic if your tire gets punctured by a nail - I experienced this twice last year. In most cases, you don't need to replace the tire immediately. The key is to check the location and depth of the puncture. If the nail is in the middle of the tread, a tire shop can fix it with a mushroom plug for just tens of yuan, and the repaired tire can still last for several years. However, if the puncture is on the sidewall, it's dangerous because that area bears significant stress. Even if patched, it's prone to bulging, so a new tire is necessary. In my case, the puncture was at the tire shoulder, and the technician used an internal patch with vulcanization repair. I drove over 30,000 kilometers without issues. Remember to regularly check tire pressure after repair, and especially inspect the patched area for bulging or air leaks before highway driving.
Never drive with a nail in your tire. Just last month, I helped my neighbor deal with this exact issue. The exposed length of the nail can tell you how deep it's penetrated—slow down immediately and pull over to check. I always keep a tire pressure gauge in my car. After finding a nail, first check the tire pressure. If it's leaking slowly, you can drive at low speed to a repair shop; if it's leaking fast, change to the spare tire. Nowadays, tire shops have professional inspection equipment that can clearly assess internal damage. My neighbor's tire had a small screw in it, and after a hot patch repair, it worked perfectly fine. However, if the tire's sidewall cords are damaged or the puncture exceeds 6 millimeters, you must replace the tire no matter how much it pains you—safety comes first.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, my advice is to handle nail punctures in tires based on the situation. For ordinary penetration damage, a simple tire repair will suffice, but pay attention to the repair method: patch repairs are suitable for small holes, mushroom plugs provide a more secure fix, and hot vulcanization repairs are the most durable but can damage the tire. If the tire has already run 50,000 to 60,000 kilometers, has aging cracks on the sidewall, or has been repaired more than twice, it's more cost-effective to replace it outright. Last time my tire got a nail puncture, it happened to be during the Double Eleven sales, so I took the opportunity to replace all four tires with quiet ones. To my surprise, the new tires not only saved fuel but also reduced noise—an unexpected bonus. Remember to replace tires in pairs to maintain balanced traction.
