Why is there no air leakage when a tire is punctured by a nail?
2 Answers
The reason why a tire does not lose air when punctured by a nail is that the nail has not penetrated the tire completely, or the nail is temporarily blocking the air outlet, preventing air from escaping. However, it is essential to replace the tire with a spare as soon as possible and take the punctured tire to a repair shop for patching. If the nail has not fully penetrated the tire, carefully removing the nail allows continued use. If the tire is punctured and leaks air, it must be repaired. Never pull out the nail immediately after the tire is punctured, as doing so can cause the tire to lose air rapidly due to decreasing pressure. In some cases, tires with higher pressure may even burst on the spot, leading to unnecessary personal injury.
I see many people encounter situations where a tire is punctured by a nail but doesn't lose air, which is quite common. The reason could be that the nail didn't penetrate all layers, only getting stuck in the rubber or fiber layers on the tire's surface without reaching the airtight part. Alternatively, the nail itself might have temporarily sealed the puncture, preventing air leakage. For self-sealing tires, the internal sealant would flow to plug the hole. However, don't take it lightly—I once saw a driver who ignored it and drove on the highway, only for the nail to wiggle out, causing a sudden slow leak that eventually led to low tire pressure and a blowout, which was extremely dangerous. I recommend you immediately drive your car to a professional tire shop for inspection—they can test whether there's an actual leak. Additionally, make it a habit to check your tire pressure weekly and inspect the tire surface for bulges or foreign objects. Safe driving relies on detailed maintenance. Tires are in direct contact with the road, and any issue can affect handling—we can't gamble with our lives.
