Driving With a Nail in Tyre: Is It Safe?

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 by Chesca D
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Chesca D is a Content & Editorial Coordinator at Tyres.co.uk and is responsible for researching, coordinating, and producing accurate, up-to-date tyre guidance for our Knowledge Hub..
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Noticed a nail in your tyre? Don’t panic — but don’t ignore it either. In this guide, we explain when it’s safe to keep driving, when to pull over, and how to tell if your tyre needs repair or replacement. Keep your car (and your wallet) safe with these expert tyre safety tips from Tyres.co.uk.

What should you do if, when inspecting your tyres, you notice a nail embedded in the rubber?

The answer to this commonly asked question lies in the extent of the damage caused by the nail, its size, and whether or not the tyre is losing air as a result of the nail.

How to Know if a Tyre is Losing Air

You will very quickly spot a flat tyre with a severe puncture. However, slow punctures can be a bit more difficult to identify and spot. 

If one of your tyres appears visually flatter than the others, or you notice the steering wheel pulling to one side significantly, then there is a high chance you are losing pressure in the affected tyre.

You can also test the air pressure using a pressure gage, to establish whether a tyre is holding its air pressure or not. 

Will a Nail Cause a Tyre to Lose Air Pressure?

In most cases, a nail getting stuck in a tyre will cause some level of damage – and the tyre will need to be repaired or replaced. However, the size of the nail and how far it embeds itself into the tyre will affect the amount of damage. 

In some cases, where the tyre seems to be retaining its pressure, you may be able to safely drive a limited distance at a limited speed. This is typically recommended for getting the tyre back home or to a garage where it can be repaired. 

If, however, the tyre seems unable to hold its air pressure, then you will need to remove and replace it. 

And that’s not the only condition. The placement of the nail matters too, when it comes to whether the tyre can safely be driven on or not. 

When Nail Placement Matters

If a nail gets stuck in the outer trim of the tyre, the damage may well be minimal. 

But if the nail is stuck in the sidewall or near to the sidewall, there is a much higher risk of hidden structural damage occurring. In this instance, whether the tyre is holding its air or not, the tyre is not safe to drive on.

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So, Can You Drive With a Nail in Your Tyre?

It depends on the size of the nail, the extent of the damage, and where in the tyre the nail has become embedded.

Too near the sidewall, and/or too much pressure loss, results in a ‘no’ in terms of safe driving. 

NOTE: If you are safely able to drive your vehicle with a nail in the tyre, it is important not to try and remove this nail. Instead, get the vehicle to a place where you can remove and repair or replace the tyre, before trying to pull it out. 

At Tyres.co.uk, we can help you to source high quality and affordable tyres to suit all vehicle types and driver preference. Simply get in touch for advice, or browse the website yourself.

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