What to Do When a Car Tire Gets Punctured by a Nail?

[AbelAnn]

Here are the steps to handle a tire punctured by a nail: 1. Slow leak: Since the tire is a tubeless tire, puncturing it with a nail won't cause immediate air loss. However, the air will slowly leak over time, so do not remove the nail on your own. Removing it could lead to a larger leak, making the car undrivable. The driver should drive slowly to a repair location for servicing. 2. Fast leak: Stop driving the car immediately and wait for a tire replacement on the spot. Forcing the car to move could completely ruin the tire and pose significant dangers. If a tire gets punctured by a nail on a highway, seek roadside assistance immediately.

[AveryDella]

I just encountered this situation last week! I was in a hurry to pick up my kids when I suddenly heard a rhythmic 'ticking' sound. I immediately pulled over, turned on the hazard lights, and used an electric air pump from the trunk to check the tire pressure. I found that the left front tire had dropped to 1.8 bar. Guys, never force yourself to keep driving! I once saw my neighbor grind through the sidewall, ruining the entire tire and costing an extra 800 yuan. Tire sealant can only last for about 30 kilometers. When I drove to the nearest repair shop, I found out it was a U-shaped nail puncture. The mechanic said this type of puncture requires an internal patch—just plugging it with a rubber strip can easily lead to air leaks. I recommend always keeping a tire pressure gauge and a small air pump in your car. In the city, waiting for roadside assistance takes too long, and you can handle emergencies yourself.

[SanCaleb]

Don't panic when you find a nail in your tire. My routine is to first check the nail's location: if it's in the central tread area, you can drive slowly to get it repaired, but if it's in the sidewall, definitely call a tow truck. Last year during rainy weather when I got a flat, I did three things: marked the puncture spot on the wheel with a fluorescent sticker (taking a phone photo works too), called my insurance company to confirm free towing coverage, and then inflated the spare tire to 2.8 BAR—once I arrived at the repair shop only to find the spare was flat, wasting half an hour. After patching the tire, remember to get wheel balancing done; don't skip this cost, as steering wheel vibration will wear out tires faster.

[KevinAnn]

As someone who frequently drives to construction sites, I need to patch my tires four or five times a year. My experience is: if you hear an unusual noise, don't pull out the nail immediately! A nail under pressure actually plugs the air leak. Apply soapy water around the nail to check for bubbles—if there are none, it means the puncture is shallow and you can drive to the repair shop. Remember to choose a mushroom plug for tire repairs; regular patches can come loose on bumpy roads. Don't exceed 80 km/h on a spare tire. Once, I was in a hurry and drove at 120 km/h, only to find the spare tire completely deformed upon arrival.

[McNicole]

When the tire pressure monitoring alarm goes off, first confirm the location of the puncture. I once had a false alarm which turned out to be a sensor malfunction. If there's a real puncture and the repair shop is within 3 kilometers with tire pressure above 1.8 BAR, I would drive slowly at 40 mph to get there. For distances over 5 kilometers, I would directly switch to the spare tire. Note that sedan spare tires are often a different size, so keep it in the trunk without heavy items on top. After getting the tire repaired, ask the mechanic to check the wheel rim edges. Last time I had a repair, the rim was found to be dented by a curb, causing a slow leak. It cost 350 to fix it properly.