Why Do I Keep Getting Nails In My Tires?

It happens more frequently than you may imagine that something gets stuck in your tire. When you are driving, the rubber material around your wheels can frequently take up small pebbles, debris, or gravel, which is quite natural and will normally not do any damage.

On the other hand, foreign things such as nails and screws can end up on the road and become lodged in your tires from time to time.

When your tires are under-inflated, more of the tire’s tread is in contact with the road, resulting in more friction as you drive. When you have too much pressure on your tires, your tires are more susceptible to damage from potholes and other road debris, which increases their risk of occurring.

If something like this has ever happened to you, you may have asked what you should do and whether it is safe to continue driving your automobile.

Ways in Which a Screw can Get into your Tire

The nails and screw can enter your tire through a number of means, though many believe it is the result of sabotage. While it is possible that this is the cause, you should also consider the environment in which you are driving in order to get to the root of the problem.

Driving over It

Nails and screws in your tire are most frequently obtained by driving over them. One thing you’ll notice about the screw-on tire issue is that it primarily impacts the back wheels, which makes sense. The majority of the time, a screw will be lying vertically on the ground in this position. When the front wheels pass over the screw, they flip the screw over by the head, leaving it upright, and the rear wheels pass over the screw, flipping the screw over again.

As a result of their low center of gravity, which allows them to stand vertically on the road, smaller screws are very straightforward to insert into tires. Because small screws in the tire do not cause significant damage, the situation is not as serious as it could be. Due to the thickness of the tread, it is possible that the little screws will not cause significant damage.

Puddles on road

You may also run over screws in puddles on the side of the road. Because the debris is hidden beneath the surface of the water in this situation, it is difficult to determine whether or not there is any. The water disturbance in the puddle may force the screws to elevate or point at an angle, making it easier for them to puncture the tire.

Hardwood planks

Screws in hardwood planks can potentially pose a threat to the tires of your vehicle. The board provides them with the necessary support to remain upright. Because of the weight of the car, the screws in the planks may enter your wheels and the wood may quickly crumble as you drive over them. With the screw exposed, it has the potential to dig even deeper into your tires.

Sabotage

Sometimes you may discover screws in your tires, and the first thing that comes to mind is that someone is attempting to sabotage your efforts. The person who is accountable for this situation may either drive the screw in or set it in a vantage point where you will drive over it at several points throughout the day. If you have reason to believe you are at risk of sabotage, you should always check underneath and around the tires before driving away. Additionally, you can sweep your feet around the wheels to verify that you are not in danger.

What Happens If a Nail Gets Stuck in a Tire?

The most common anticipation is that the tire will be underinflated. The screw may act as a plug, allowing the pressure to be maintained for a short period of time. A fault with the wheels, on the other hand, can be noticed by the observer. A difficult driving experience or car instability as a result of low tire pressure on the wheels are two possible manifestations of this condition.

If you find a screw in your tire, fix it quickly before it blows out

Yes, you can drive with a nail in your wheel, but only if you are desperate to get to the nearest tire center or want to repair the damage. A spare tire might help you get the needed attention when you need it.

Driving with a screwed-on tire is quite unsafe

The driving experience may become rougher as the screw penetrates deeper into the tire, especially on uneven roads.

A little screw can be easily removed

Check your toolbox for the necessary tools to remove the screw. A set of pliers will do. However, you should know that removing the screw is a gamble because its length is unknown. A mechanic can remove the screw and repair the hole.

Keep in mind the damage’s location

A tire patch can fix the screw and the treads in the middle of the tire. If the screw is on the tire’s side or shoulder, replacement is the only choice. Patching a screw on the tire shoulder is not an option due to the weight of the car. The weight bulges the tires and forces the plug out. It’s disastrous if you’re driving.

In brief, a screw-in tire between treads can be repaired, but not on the sides.

What Should You Do If You Find a Nail in Your Tire?

First and foremost, if you get a nail in your tire and you can literally hear or feel air leaking out, it’s time to put on your spare tire and head to the nearest tire store to have a new tire installed immediately. Whenever your tire blows out or goes flat, it’s time to get a new one installed. Remember, never drive on a flat tire since you could cause damage to your rims, which would be significantly more expensive to repair than simply purchasing a new tire. Do not attempt to push your vehicle even if it has a run-flat-tire. While these allow you to travel a short distance, it is necessary to get them repaired.

Step 1: As soon as possible, check the tire pressure

Having a nail or screw in your tire necessitates checking the tire’s pressure to make sure it isn’t losing air at an alarming rate. Until you can get the tire fixed or replaced by a professional, put the spare on if the pressure is too low. It’s possible that your tire pressure is only slightly low; if this is the case, simply pump it up and take it to a repair shop.

Step 2: Repair the tire

In the instance that you bring your tire into a repair shop, it will be demounted and properly checked out. It is possible that the nail will be removed and the hole will be fixed using a plug and patch combination if the puncture is to the center of the tread area. The tire repair shop will plug the hole from the outside of the tire and patch it from the interior of the tire, as needed. It will take you very little time and will not cost you an extortionate amount.

It is recommended that you hire an expert to complete this task. It is possible for snow, precipitation, and other moisture to enter the tire and corrode the steel belts if the process is not done correctly.

Step 3: If necessary, replace the tire

The entire tire must be changed in some circumstances when a plug/patch combo fails. When a hole is too large (1/4 inch in diameter) or cannot be patched, such as the sidewall or shoulder, this occurs. The tire should be replaced rather than repaired since you may damage a section of the tire, blow it out, and in the end, it could cost you more if you get into an accident.

Repairing a tire incorrectly can be hazardous to both you and other vehicles on the road, so proceed with caution. If your tire is damaged by a nail or screw, make sure to have it professionally repaired so that you can continue to enjoy your drive.

Is it Possible For a Nail to Puncture the Sidewall of a Tire?

Yes, a nail can penetrate the sidewall of a tire, causing significant damage to the tire. Sidewalls are actually the weakest component of a tire, and they are particularly prone to punctures because of their design.

Radial tires are the most common type of modern tire. In other words, they have a steel band that runs the length of the tread and aids in the stabilization and strengthening of the road contact surface. Radial tires do not have a steel band in the sidewall like conventional tires. To strengthen the rubber and make it more puncture and flex resistant, they instead employ ply or nylon reinforcing fibers. That is why, it is quite easy to penetrate the tread of a radial tire, yet the vast majority of nails never make it all the way through. When they come into contact with the steel band, they do not break, but rather become stuck in the rubber tread block. Because it just produces noise and a small unbalance, this is a rather harmless phenomenon.

Sidewall punctures are significantly less common than other types of punctures, but they have the potential to be far more serious. There is nothing in the sidewall that will prevent the nail from passing through completely, and deflation is unavoidable if this happens.

Is it Possible for Sidewall Nails to Cause a Blowout?

It is possible that a little thing, such as a nail, could cause an uncontrollable tire breakdown under certain circumstances. The fact is that this is true, and it occurs more frequently than most people know. When a nail punctures a sidewall cleanly, it is unlikely to cause an explosion; however, a jagged or rusted nail might cause a rupture that will enlarge suddenly in extreme circumstances, resulting in an explosion.

This is more typical on old, worn-out tires than on brand new ones, although it is still possible with brand new tires as well. The nails that come from nail guns are the most dangerous. Each of these nails is held together by a little length of wire, which breaks off when the nail is pushed into the ground, resulting in jagged barb-like stubs on the shaft of each nail. This can result in uneven entrance holes, which increases the likelihood of the fabric being torn.

Tires are most prone to exploding on hot days when traveling at fast speeds. Tire pressure increases as you travel faster and as you ascend and descend in altitude. When you combine a worn-out tire with a sidewall nail, you are almost guaranteed to experience a bad highway blowout at some point.

Is It Safe to Remove the Tire’s Nail?

You shouldn’t merely pull the nail out unless you’ve deflated the tire and removed the wheel to replace it. Once the nail is removed, you’ll be able to see if there’s a hole in the bag. This can lead to an explosion if the sidewall is torn any further.

When the tire and wheel have been removed and the tire has been deflated, it is safe to remove a nail. Remove the tire from its wheel and then work on it. You’ll be able to see if the nail is deformed or needs to be cut before removing it, preventing further damage to the tire.

Conclusion

If you have this problem, inspect it. In conclusion, a nail in the tread can be repaired, but a sidewall screw requires replacement. It is temporary, so you must change the tire to enjoy a satisfying driving experience.