A nail in a tire connotes harm, be it small or big. It may or may not take a long time before you notice your tire is punctured by a nail.
Sometimes it can take hours and if the nail has dogged deep into the tire, it may prevent the air from escaping. So, how long can you drive with a nail in your tire?
How long you drive with a nail in your tire depends on the current state of the tire and the nature of the nail that punctured the tire. You can drive up to 100 miles if the nail that punctured the tire prevent air from escaping from the tire and if you use a run-flat tire.
How Long Can You Drive With A Nail in Your Tire?
How long you drive depends on the current state of the tire. If the tire is deflated or deflating so fast, you can’t drive half a mile, but if the tire is still in a condition that doesn’t lose its air, you can drive as many miles as you want to.
The danger of having your tire punctured is only tied to your tiring losing its resources (air).
If it still has air intact, the car is ready as far as the driver is willing but if the air is depleting at a slow rate, a short distance can be covered but if the deflation is on a fast lane, you are only advised to have your car parked and fixed.
Also, if you drive with a run-flat tire, there are chances that you can drive for hundreds of miles before the tire can completely deflate. Run-flat tires don’t delate air easily as long as you’re running at a certain speed until you come to a complete stop.
Is It Safe To Drive With A Nail In Your Tire?
It is not safe to drive with a nail in your tire because it can cause a blowout which may lead to an accident, especially if you’re on high speed. It can also cause more damage to the tire and make you spend more money to replace it.
If we are to generalize the concept, it is sure you are told the dangers of having a nail in your tire but in the case where you are stranded of help and the tire condition isn’t too bad, maybe a small puncture from a small nail, or a big puncture by a big nail.
Either way, if the condition isn’t too bad to cause an accident, you can always drive to a safe zone while you call upon your professional to help you get your tire fixed.
Safety or not depends on what current damage is the nail capable of causing to the tire and how badly it can affect your driving.
How Do You Temporarily Fix a Nail in Your Tire?
To repair your tire punctured by a nail temporarily, do these:
1. Identify the Location of the Nail
The first thing to do is to find the annoying nail or screw wherever it might hide in the tire. It is always very advisable to drive over the nail so it can get hooked with the tire and doesn’t leak out of air.
If you can do that, fine, you can drive a few miles in safety and then come back to have it fixed but if the nail still leaks out of the air, you need to do more.
2. Remove the Nail
Carefully remove the nail if your hands can do it, but your hands still can’t have the nail removed. Find a screwdriver and have it removed gently so you don’t push out the whole pressure all at once.
3. Patch The Tire
As a car owner, you should always have a patch kit in case of an emergency. You don’t need to be a mechanic to have it. It can save you lots of stress, especially during emergencies.
However, after successfully removing the nail, you can’t leave the space opened; have the hole patched with a patch kit. With this, you can prevent the air from escaping the tire for a shorter time before you get it to a professional to get the tire fixed. Ensure to get the tire pressure to the recommended PSI.
Nevertheless, if the mark given by the nail is something that cannot be patched, it would be nice to replace the tire with another one. The same goes if you don’t feel safe or comfortable using a patched tire. Have the tire changed to another one.
How Long Does A Tire With A Nail In It Last?
A tire with a nail in it will last till when the air in the tire is below the normal air capacity to ensure the car keeps moving.
If the nail is well fixed to the tire, it can last longer than expected, but if there are pores where the air gets to escape from the tire, then in no time, it will restrict the car’s momentum when moving.
However, even after patching the tire, it can still last for a very long time. In fact, patching a tire doesn’t mean the tire is completely useless.
Depending on the level of damage caused by the patch, it can last a very long time. If it’s a tiny patch caused by a nail, your tire can still last very long.
What to Do If There Is a Nail in Your Tire
When there is a nail in your tire, the best thing to do is to have it replaced or fixed. Having it fixed is a temporary solution, and it is available and the best fit for emergencies, and having it replaced with a new one solves the entire problem.
Can I Drive on the Highway With a Nail in My Tire?
Yes! you can drive on the highway with a nail in your tire as long as the nail is tightly attached to the tire. The restriction of air from escaping outside gives the tire the audacity to keep moving.
Thanks to the nail that is tightly attached to the tire. With it, you can tour the earth at a high speed. However, it is advisable to do what is needed to avoid unexpected expenses or damages.
Moreover, it is also advisable to always check your tires to be able to tell when someone puts a nail in your tire. This will help save you from unwanted circumstances.
Can a Tire Explode from a Nail?
Yes, driving a car with a nail attached to the tire can cause a blowout, provided the tire has lost air beyond the required capacity. It is advisable to change your tire or have it temporally fixed when faced with a punctured problem.
Risking it can be beneficial but what if you are not so lucky to escape a blowout?
Common reasons for a tire blow out aside a puncture from a nail can result from a terrible road or having too much weight in the car, little or no air in the tires, uneven tread, and worn-out or old tires.
Can You Inflate a Tire When There Is Nail on It?
No, removing the nail from the tire before inflating is the best fit to prevent the air from escaping once more.
After detecting a nail in your tire, the first step is to have it removed with your hand or make use of a screwdriver to take it out.
If you want to have it fixed temporally, cover patches with a patch kit and inflate to restore the air pressure, but if you will get a new one, there won’t be a need to inflate.
If you can’t do it yourself, contact a tire technician or Vulcanizer to do the job for you. It is much better that way.
Can You Drive a Long Distance With a Nail in Your Tire?
Yes! You can drive a long distance with a nail in your tire in as much as the tire doesn’t lose its air.
The only reason you can drive your distance without having to worry at the moment is when the tire is tightly punctured, air can’t find a way of escaping.
With this, you can drive safely to where you need to get to before seeking the help of a professional to have it fixed.
Final Thoughts
You can escape your way temporarily to get to your place of work or wherever you urgently want to be with a nail in your tire permitted it is well fitted into the tire that air cannot find a way of escaping. After, you get a professional to have it fixed permanently for you.
