What to Do When a Nail Punctures the Tire but There's No Air Leak?
2 Answers
If you find that a nail has punctured the tire but there's no air leak and the car can still drive normally, you should drive at a low speed to the nearest repair shop for inspection. However, you cannot ignore the issue. If left untreated, it may lead to a tire blowout, posing a significant hazard. Most car tires on the market today are tubeless tires. When a tubeless tire is punctured by a nail, it won't lose air quickly, giving you enough time to drive to a repair shop for inspection. Below are precautions to take when a tire is punctured: 1. It's important to note that when a tire is punctured by a nail, you must not pull it out immediately. Doing so could cause severe air leakage, making it impossible to continue driving. If the tire pressure is high, pulling out the nail might even cause a blowout, which is extremely dangerous. 2. Generally, the tread of a tire is relatively thick. If the nail punctures the tread, you can pull it out and apply some soapy water to the puncture to check for bubbles. If no bubbles appear, the tire may not need repair and can continue to be used or serve as a spare tire, but you should monitor it closely. If bubbles appear, it means the tire has been punctured and requires repair. After repair, the tire can continue to be used. The sidewall of the tire is thinner, and if it is punctured, it cannot be repaired, necessitating a new tire. 3. If the puncture diameter exceeds 6 millimeters, it cannot be repaired. Additionally, if the tire bead is damaged or deformed, the tread is bulging, or the tire has been repaired twice before, these situations also require a new tire. Bulging is a common issue with tires, usually caused by impacts that break the internal metal wires, leading to bulges. Continuing to drive at high speeds or over long distances with a bulging tire can easily result in a blowout and cause an accident.
Last time I had a nail in my tire, it was the same situation - never pull out the nail yourself! The nail actually plugs the leak, and removing it might cause immediate deflation. First, use the tire pressure monitoring system to confirm stable readings. If there's no significant pressure drop, you can drive slowly (preferably under 60 km/h) to the nearest repair shop. Avoid potholes and sharp turns on the way, and listen for any hissing sounds of air leakage. The repair shop will first spray soapy water to test for leaks - they'll patch it if possible, otherwise replacement is necessary. In my case, the nail was in the tire shoulder area, and the mechanic said patching wouldn't be safe, so I had to get a new tire. It's recommended to keep an air pump in your car for emergency inflation when abnormal tire pressure is detected.
