Should You Pull Out a Nail Stuck in a Car Tire or Not?
4 Answers
If a nail is stuck in a car tire, do not pull it out immediately; drive to a repair shop before removing it. Methods for handling a nail in a tire: Without the proper tools and repair skills, pulling out the nail yourself may cause a tire that wasn’t leaking to start losing air immediately, rendering the car undrivable. This could require changing to a spare tire or towing the vehicle to a repair shop. If you leave the nail in, you can slowly drive the car to the repair shop. Tire maintenance tips:
I've had plenty of driving experience in my life and have encountered nails in tires several times. I remember once on the highway when I found a nail in my tire, I pulled it out without thinking, and the air leaked so fast that the tire went flat in less than ten minutes. In the end, I had to call a tow truck, wasting money for nothing. Since then, I've learned my lesson and firmly refuse to pull out nails myself. The correct approach is to first check the tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge. If it's still drivable, drive slowly to the nearest repair shop, keeping the speed under 50 km/h to avoid wheel rim deformation. A professional will safely remove the nail and patch the tire for you, preserving the tire's lifespan and saving time. It's always good to keep an air pump and a tire pressure gauge in your car—these small tools can be lifesavers in critical moments. Safe driving should always be the top priority.
I'm a new driver who just started driving not long ago. Last summer, when I encountered a nail in my tire for the first time, I panicked. At that time, I got out of the car to take a look and hesitated whether to pull it out, but a friend warned me not to touch it because pulling it out would cause immediate and significant air loss, potentially rendering the car immobile right away. I quickly called a repair shop for advice, and they told me to stay calm, slowly pull over with hazard lights on, and wait for assistance or move the car slowly to the shop. Since then, I've learned not to act recklessly but to prioritize finding a safe spot to stop and inspect. I recommend that new drivers keep an emergency kit in the car, including basic tools and contact numbers. Regular tire maintenance can also prevent similar issues and avoid trouble in unfamiliar places. In short, being cautious never hurts.
Having lived most of my life, I deeply understand that driving safety is more important than anything else. When a tire gets punctured by a nail, don't pull it out recklessly—doing so will make it leak faster, and the loss outweighs the gain. The safest approach is to drive slowly to a repair shop where professionals can handle it properly. Remember to monitor the tire pressure on the road and drive steadily.
