Like, I guess most people, I check tyre pressures every couple of weeks and at the same time examine sidewalls and visible tread for any obvious problems.
Twice recently I have noticed a nail in the tread and, because there was no evidence of air loss, removed them. Each time the tyre deflated.
I removed them because I assume that by doing so I would prevent a puncture in the future but obviously I was mistaken.
The consensus among my neighbours was that they would not have bothered to look for nails, etc., and had they seen them they'd have ignored them "because that's how tubeless tyres are designed: to seal round a nail".
Based on a very small sample they are apparently right but it still doesn't seem right to me.
Unlike my neighbours, many of you have specialist knowledge and I'd be grateful for your opinions.
Bax
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Bax
I'm not an expert but personally if I found a nail in one of my car tyres I would remove it,purely because of the risk of a high speed blow out.
Yes it may seal around the nail but taking a sharp corner or travelling fast on the motorway might loosen this 'seal' and rapidly deflate the tyre.
So you have to ask what would you prefer? A nail pretty much holding your tyre together or pull it out and get it repaired properly, or even replace the tyre altogether if the damage was on the shoulder?
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bax,
Good to know that I do not have the stupidest neighbours in the world - thanks.
No specialist knowledge - just opinion - keep donig waht you are doing
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bax,
With correct spelling this time;
Good to know that I do not have the stupidest neighbours in the world - thanks.
No specialist knowledge - just opinion - keep doing what you are doing, and remember that your contact with the road, through your tires, is about the size of the palm of your hand at best.
Matt35.
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I agree: take the nail out and get the tyre fixed.
The only circumstances when I would leave it would be if I became aware of the nail while on a journey, eg noticing the clicking noise. In those circumstances if I had not too far to go I would drive cautiously on, to avoid changing the wheel by the roadside.
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I always leave the nail in, and drive slowly to the tyre repair centre! If you take it out, the tyre can deflate quickly.
I'd never drive more than 10 mins and or over 30 mph with a nail. In fact last time, I called out a mobile fitter.
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When I take the wheel for repair on Monday I'll ask the lads there for their opinions although they have a vested interest and so those opinions may not be altogether impartial. bax
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Wouldn't it be best to put the spare on before driving to the tyre specialist? Well, that's what I have done a couple of times anyway. I wouldn't trust any tyre with even the tiniest nail in.
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Wouldn't it be best to put the spare on before driving to the tyre specialist? Well, that's what I have done a couple of times anyway. I wouldn't trust any tyre with even the tiniest nail in. I agree: take the nail out and get the tyre fixed.
I very recently attended my friends sons funeral. The police investigating the RTA very quickly reported that there was a nail in one of the tyres and that appeared to be the cause of the accident. It was a new car on new tyres.
I do not want to go into details because I have no more information.
I have always checked for anything in my tyres whenever it is possible. Whenever a wheel is off I always remove all flints etc and scan the tread and sidewalls. I have had a repair for a nail let me down while on a motorway. Fortunately I was in the nearside lane on a quiet stretch when a N/S front deflated. I was able to roll to a halt without any drama.
IMO if you cannot afford to look after your tyres then stop motoring. Tyres are just too important.
I am saddened by the number of cars on the road with obviously soft tyres. Knowing that it is unlikely that my offspring will regularly check tyre pressures I plead with them to at least do a visual check that all the tyres appear to be about the same shape at the bottom. For peace of mind Dad will check their tyre pressures when they are at home.
The only reason I would leave in place an obvious nail that had punctured a tyre is to avoid marking its position while I carried it in the car to get it seen to.
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I don't know if this is excessively anal or unnecessarily profligate, and perhaps it traces itself to my motorcycle roots, but on the times I have had a flat due to a nail or similar I have always replaced the tyre with a new one. Once it's been repaired I no longer have any confidence in it.
Like henry says tyres are just too important.
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I don't know if this is excessively anal or unnecessarily profligate, and perhaps it traces itself to my motorcycle roots, but on the times I have had a flat due to a nail or similar I have always replaced the tyre with a new one. Once it's been repaired I no longer have any confidence in it. Like henry says tyres are just too important.
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You could fit a tube. They are better with alloy wheels anyway because alloy is a bit porous and not so good at sealing tubeless tyres. Michelin are supplying a free one with every new tyre.
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I've had about three or four nails over the years. I seem to recall that the tyre can be repaired if the nail is through the tread but not through the side wall or within a certain distance of the sidewall - something like 20mm?
I've always thought to leave it in so the repair is easier to find when you get to the tyre fitters. Obviously drive to the fitters carefully.
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I had a nail in my tyre a while back. Only repairable if located in the middle third of the tread IIRC. Like a total idiot I had driven round with it still in my tyre whilst doing 80mph because I was "too busy" to get it sorted! Never again!
--
I'm a loser, baby....so why don't you kill me?!
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From a safety point of view the nail should not remain in the tyre. Under heavy cornering or braking the nail can rip the tyre and cause rapid deflation. From a practical point of view the balance of the tyre is immediately compromised by the weight of the nail. Leaving a nail in the tyre is most unwise. Regards Peter
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Guys I think you're overdoing it!
1. Balance of the tyre compromised? By one nail? At maybe 5 grams? Don't think so..
2. Safer to remove the nail when you spot it? But most times you DON'T see the nail! You see its results, like consistently lower pressure every time checking, or a flat tyre. AND if you do remove the nail, the only thing you'll manage is to deflate it rapidly. MUCH better to leave it in and drive to a specialist.
3. The tyre's no good after repair? Depends on the specialist and his methods. Best to remove the tyre and apply patch. Done it twice with perfect results. If you see a guy with a screwdriver-like tool approaching your tyre, stop him and demand that he removes it and applies a patch. This screwdriver-thing will only save him time and won't really fix the damage caused by the nail, it'll rather do additional damage to your tyre.
I agree that tyres are the most important parts of our cars, but we don't need to panic when seeing a tyre with lower pressure, or a nail in them!
Vagelis.
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I recently experienced this too. According to my local tyre place, it's pluggable by them if it is in the middle third of the tread. Any nearer the edge and there is a possibility the plug will leak/come out as the tyre deforms on cornering. In that case the tyre can be sent away for a proper vulcanised repair which should leave it as good as new and cost around £20.
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Some tyre shops I've used over the years have vulcanised their repairs on the spot. Don't know the details but it looks like something is put on the plug/patch and briefly set light to. Must "weld" the repair to the tyre.
Terry
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I'm interested in the concept of tubes and alloys as one of mine loses pressure persistently. I've had the inner surface of the wheel cleaned and that improved things for a couple of months. Any tyre experts out there like to comment on tubes and alloy wheels?
Tim
Tim{P}
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Way back about the time radials were invented I seem to remember rally drivers used to put tubes inside tubeless tyres - belt and braces you might say. Since then I seem to remember reading that it was no longer such a clever idea, presumably because the valve orifice is not designed for it. Any other reasons?
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Take the wheel off and fit the spare. Take the nail out and if tyre starts to deflate put it back in so that when you take it for repair the guys at the tyre shop know where the leak is. Once you have found a fault like this never run on that tyre, too risky and/or damaging to the tyre.
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I cannot believe what I am reading here: surely it's a wind-up.
If you find a nail in your tyre CHANGE THE WHEEL for the spare.
Get the tyre with the nail in it repaired ASAP.
Do not take the nail out yourself as not only will it retain some pressure in the tyre and will save time at the repair shop as it will indicate where the repair needs to be made.
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Brian, what you say is OK except that it would be pretty silly doing all that you say if, when it was pulled out, it was apparent that the nail or whatever was only a stubby tack and had only penetrated a couple of mm's into the tread.
Also after a nail has gone round the block a few times it might just look like a harmless bit of swarf but you won't know until you've done some digging.
Anyway, my local tyre fitters wholeheartedly agree with The Growler (now there's a surprise) and I've got a loverly new Firestone c.o. Mr Mastercard although I suspect that there's some truth in that old one about them as goes looking for trouble usually meets him half way.
bax
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