What to do if a tire is punctured by a nail but not leaking air?

[PaisleyDella]

Tire punctured by a nail but not leaking air should slow down and find a repair shop to patch the tire. The method of patching the tire is: 1. Remove the tire and find the leaking position; 2. Use a wrench to expand it, and use pliers to pull out the nail; 3. Use a grinder to polish the punctured position, and apply glue to the polished position; 4. Use the corresponding tools to evenly hammer the patch to complete. Car tires are one of the important components of a car, which are directly in contact with the road surface, and together with the car suspension, they mitigate the impact received during driving, ensuring good ride comfort and smooth driving of the car, and ensuring good adhesion between the wheels and the road surface, thereby improving the traction, braking and passability of the car.

[McSteven]

A few days ago, I encountered a similar situation where a nail punctured my tire but there was no air leakage, which was quite surprising. First, don't rush to handle it. I immediately stopped to check the nail's location: if it's in the middle of the tread, the lack of leakage might be due to the nail being short or the outer rubber being thick, not damaging the airtight layer. However, you should never ignore it. I recommend driving slowly—below 50 km/h—to a professional auto repair shop. While driving, avoid sharp turns or sudden braking to prevent the nail from shifting and causing unexpected air leakage. At the shop, have the technician remove the nail and check if the inner layer is damaged. The tire structure is complex, and damage to the cord layer can weaken its strength. If not repaired, it might lead to a blowout in the future. Additionally, carrying a tire pressure monitor daily can help prevent slow leaks. In short, safety comes first—don't take risks to save time.

[FranciscoDella]

Last week, I also had a nail in my tire, but the air pressure didn’t drop. At the time, I thought it was fine and kept driving, but my experienced neighbor warned me about the risks. He advised me to go to a repair shop immediately—I followed his advice, and the technician said the nail only penetrated the surface layer, leaving the airtight layer intact. However, if I had driven for a few more days, the internal fiber layer might have broken and caused a leak. They removed the nail and patched the tire, spending a little money to avoid bigger trouble. Now I know that if I find a foreign object in my tire, I should stop and check if the tire pressure is stable. If there’s any sign of pressure loss, I shouldn’t move it and should drive slowly to get it repaired. Regular drivers should keep an emergency kit handy, including a tire pressure gauge and an air pump—it’s useful in critical moments. The lesson is: don’t slack off even if it seems minor; early action saves hassle and money.

[XavierLee]

This is really scary! A nail in your tire doesn't mean safety—if the shaking worsens on the road, the nail digs deeper or the inner liner ruptures, the risk of a blowout is high. I've encountered a similar situation: pull over immediately, don't keep driving to avoid danger. If the nail hasn't fallen out upon inspection, don't try to pull it out either; contact roadside assistance directly or slowly drive to the nearest repair shop. Keep an eye on the tire pressure display while driving and maintain steady control. Remember, the tire structure includes an inner liner—the surface may look intact but the interior could be damaged; long delays will accelerate aging. Safety comes first, don't take risks to save trouble, let professionals handle it—that's the most reliable approach.