What to Do When You Find a Nail in Your Tire?
3 Answers
Tire puncture solutions are as follows: 1. If there is no air leakage after the puncture, you can use saliva to check whether bubbles appear at the punctured spot. Generally, if no bubbles appear, it means the nail hasn't penetrated deeply and there's no air leakage, so it doesn't need to be removed. 2. If there is air leakage after the puncture, you must not continue driving. Seek assistance on the spot. Tires are circular elastic rubber products mounted on various vehicles or machinery to roll on the ground. They are usually installed on metal rims, supporting the vehicle body, cushioning external impacts, ensuring contact with the road surface, and maintaining the vehicle's driving performance.
That day I heard a strange noise from my tire while driving, and sure enough, I found a screw stuck in it when I got out to check. I didn’t dare pull it out directly, worried that it might cause an immediate air leak. I quickly took out the portable air pump to refill the tire and observed that the tire pressure remained stable. Since I wasn’t far from home, I drove slowly at low speed, keeping an eye on the tire pressure monitor the whole way. The biggest risk after a puncture is continuing to drive hard, which could lead to a dangerous blowout. Once, I saw a driver pull out a nail, and the tire instantly went flat—it was nerve-wracking to watch, especially since it happened on the highway. If you get a puncture in an unfamiliar area, I recommend turning on your hazard lights, pulling over, and contacting a repair shop or your insurance company’s roadside assistance for a safer solution. When I got home, I applied soapy water around the nail and noticed small bubbles forming. The next day, I went straight to a professional tire repair shop to get it fixed.
Last week, after coming back from grocery shopping, I found a nail stuck in the left front tire, but the tire pressure warning hadn't gone off yet. I immediately moved the car to a safe spot, opened the trunk, and took out the triangular warning sign. I remembered from the owner's class that the instructor said you should never pull out a nail from the tire on the spot, as it could cause instant pressure loss and lead to wheel rim deformation. I took out my phone, snapped a photo of the nail's location, and sent it to the service advisor at the 4S dealership. They suggested driving slowly to the shop for inspection, mentioning that nails under 5mm can usually be patched. However, I opted for towing service instead, not wanting to take any risks with my new car. Actually, during quarterly full-vehicle inspections, it's important to ask the mechanic to specifically check the tire treads for small nails—this helps in early detection.
