What to Do with a Nail in Your Tire

It happens to everyone sooner or later: You find a nail in your tire. You might be wondering, now what? Sometimes you can see that flat metal top clearly, but other times it’s hidden. Either way, it needs to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Luckily, your friendly neighborhood dealership has your back.

We at Cloninger Ford Morganton put together this troubleshooting guide so you’ll know what to do if you notice a nail in your tire. Whether you’re driving in or around Morganton, Boone, Newland, or Lenoir, we’re here to provide you with the quality car care service you deserve.

Nail in Your Tire: Now What?

Finding a nail in your tire doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a flat. Sometimes, a small nail can simply get stuck on the outer tread without puncturing the tire. Other times, it might have punctured the inner lining so deeply that the pressure has sealed it in place.

So, what should you do?

First, keep your hands off the tire. The best thing to do in this situation is to leave the nail in place until a professional technician can look at it for you.

Next, check your tire pressure. Even if your tire looks full, it’s important to determine the amount of air that may be leaking. If your tire pressure is significantly low, we recommend putting on your spare tire or having a mechanic do it for you. If you swap in your spare, save the tire with the nail in it to see if it can be repaired. Otherwise, it will need to be replaced.

If you find the pressure is only somewhat or slightly low, fill it back up and bring your car to your service center as soon as you can.

Can I Drive with a Nail in My Tire?

The short answer is that it’s usually okay to drive short distances—like to your service center. However, it’s possible that driving with a nail in your tire could cause further damage and possibly lead to a blowout if you hit a curb or other object.

A tire blowout can cause you to lose control of your car and create a safety hazard for you and others on the road. Continuing to drive on your tire when it has a nail in it can cause further damage.

The good news is that repairing or replacing your tire can usually be done easily, so you can get back on the road quickly.

Repair or Replace?

In certain cases, your mechanic will be able to remove the nail, plug the hole, and patch the tire, allowing you to continue driving on it like new. Fortunately, this is a relatively simple process that will likely have you behind the wheel again in no time.

Some situations do require a full tire replacement. This is often due to the location of the nail in your tire and/or the size of the hole made by the nail. The areas known as the shoulder and the sidewall of your tire move around more while you drive, making a repair unstable.

Schedule a Service!

Though it probably won’t happen often, you could find a nail in your tire at any time. At Cloninger Ford Morganton, we’re happy to help fix it.

We welcome Morganton, Boone, Newland, and Lenoir drivers to use our adaptive online scheduler to make an appointment. Get your car serviced and be on your way today!