Should I Remove a Nail from My Car Tire?
3 Answers
Tire punctured by a nail but not leaking air is not recommended to pull out, because if the nail has already penetrated the tire, removing it may cause severe air leakage, rendering the vehicle undrivable; moreover, if the tire pressure is high, removing the nail might even lead to a tire blowout. There are two scenarios of tire air leakage as follows: 1. Rapid leakage: When removing the nail from the tire, you can hear the sound of air escaping, and it's visibly apparent that the tire loses pressure and deflates. In this case, you must not continue driving, as it may cause wheel rim deformation and poses extreme driving hazards. The correct approach is to stay where you are and seek assistance. 2. Slow leakage: When removing the nail from the tire, if there's no obvious air leakage, it indicates a very slow leakage rate, allowing you to drive slowly to the nearest repair shop for patching or replacement.
When you find a nail in your car tire, never pull it out immediately, as doing so may cause rapid air leakage, worsening the puncture or even leading to a blowout, which is especially dangerous at high speeds. I learned this the hard way—once while driving in the city, the tire pressure warning light came on, but I ignored it. Later, the nail fell out, and the tire went flat. Fortunately, I was driving slowly, so no accident occurred. I recommend gently pressing the tire to check its firmness first. If it still feels inflated, drive at a low speed to a professional repair shop or dealership. A technician will use detection tools to locate the leak before deciding whether to patch or replace the tire. Make it a habit to regularly check tire pressure and avoid parking near construction sites or garbage piles to reduce the risk of nail punctures. Safety first—don’t risk pulling out the nail hastily just to save a few minutes.
I've had multiple instances of nails puncturing my tires, and each time I never pulled the nail out but drove slowly to the repair shop. Once on a rainy day, I didn't notice a nail on the road and drove several kilometers before realizing the tire pressure was unstable, but still didn't remove the nail. At the shop, they found it was just a small hole that was easily patched, costing only a few dozen yuan. If you pull the nail out, the air escapes rapidly, the hole might enlarge making it harder to repair, or even render the entire tire unusable. I now always keep a portable air pump and tire pressure gauge in my car. When I find a nail, I first inflate the tire to confirm the pressure, as long as it can maintain low-speed driving to the repair shop. This method saves money and is safer—don't follow those who recklessly pull out nails to save trouble, as they might end up with bigger losses.
