A nail in a car tyre – is it safe to drive on it?
Drivers who notice a nail embedded in their car’s tyres should not ignore the situation, but should inspect the tyres immediately. It is worth checking whether the tyre is losing pressure, whether there is any damage to its structure or inner layers, and deciding on the appropriate course of action. Driving with a nail stuck in a tyre can be extremely dangerous, particularly at high speeds.
Is it safe to drive with a nail in a tyre – and why not?
Of course, we advise against continuing to drive a car with a nail embedded in a tyre. Such a fault could lead to damage to the steel cords
and the inner layers of the tyre, thereby significantly weakening its structure and causing further, serious deformation. Nails embedded in the sidewall of the tyre are particularly problematic. In such cases, repair is usually impossible, and the only recommended solution is tyre replacement in Warsaw.
Air often leaks from a tyre very slowly, making it difficult to notice. Drivers should bear in mind that driving on a tyre with low pressure can lead not only to it overheating, but also to a dangerous blowout. Furthermore, a nail may shift whilst driving, fall out, and thus lead to a faster loss of air.
In what situations can a tyre with a nail in it be repaired?
In some cases, it is permissible to repair a tyre with a nail embedded in it. However, this is subject to the condition that the nail is located in the tread and the diameter of the resulting puncture does not exceed 6 mm. Furthermore, a tyre with a nail embedded in it must not be used for too long, as this could damage the inner layers. Therefore, if a driver manages to reach a service centre on a flat tyre, a repair may not be possible.
A service specifically for tyres with a nail embedded in them may include cold repair, using a patch insert; hot repair, i.e. professional vulcanisation; or what is known as a plug repair.
What to do if you get a puncture from a nail – a step-by-step guide?
Firstly, do not attempt to remove the nail yourself; simply carry out a visual inspection of the fault. Next, check the tyre pressure; if it has dropped significantly, you must fit the spare tyre. You should then take the car to a garage, ideally within 24 hours of noticing the fault.
To sum up, there is a chance that a nail embedded in the tyre tread will not cause the tyre to fail, but it may be possible to repair it. However, if the nail has punctured the sidewall of the tyre, causing it to lose pressure rapidly, and the driver has been driving on a flat tyre, the only recommended solution is to replace the tyre.