If you've recently bought a new set of tyres for your car, then you may be more than a little annoyed if you suddenly discover the head of a nail protruding from one of the sidewalls. You may curse the contractor who may have allowed these nails to spill onto the highway in the first place, but you've got more pressing things to think about after that. Can you continue with your journey at this stage, or do you have to take action right away?

Analysis

The first thing you need to determine is the extent of the damage. Clearly, the nail is embedded within the rubber, but it may not have punctured the inner liner as well. You may not know, but the air that inflates the tyre is contained within a special liner and this will usually fit tightly against the inside wall, once properly inflated. It's possible that the nail entered at a shallow angle, however, and has missed the liner altogether. In this case, the tyre can retain its pressure without any issue.

Inflation

Before you drive, check to see if the tyre is inflated to its recommended level by using a proper gauge. If everything seems to be okay in this department then you should be able to drive the vehicle to your tyre fitter without any worry, so that they can have a look at the problem. However, if the tyre does appear to be deflated then you should probably fit the spare wheel instead before you do anything else.

Repair

You may be worried about the cost of a replacement tyre, but the fitter may be able to repair the hole using a plug and patch kit. Much will depend on the position of the hole and whether or not it is in an area that comes under a lot of stress or pressure when the vehicle is in motion. If it is far away from the shoulder or sidewall then you may be able to get away with it.

Some people may be tempted to leave the nail in place, as they can only see the head and, surely, it will automatically seal any hole. However, moisture will penetrate the inside of the tyre over time and this may cause an issue with the wire braiding inside. This could cause some instability and may eventually lead to a blowout.

Taking Action

If you're still not sure what to do, then you should definitely fit the spare wheel and head to your tyre fitter right away.

For more information on car tyres, consult a resource in your area.

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