Nail in the car tire

Chakraan · Post by **Chakraan** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:05 am

Today I found a nail in my car tire. Took it to walmart tire and lube center (nearest) and I had to buy a new tire costing me $140 :cry:

Otherwise all my four tires are pretty new.Can some one purposely poke the nail for vandalising ?

What is your experience with the similar situation ?

vsudhu · Post by **vsudhu** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:43 am

Chakraan;376004Today I found a nail in my car tire. Took it to walmart tire and lube center (nearest) and I had to buy a new tire costing me $140 :cry:

Otherwise all my four tires are pretty new.Can some one purposely poke the nail for vandalising ?

What is your experience with the similar situation ?

Purchased tire protection. You pay something like $10 a tire. Or else buy tires from Costco and such other places. Prices there include warranty for road hazards. Has come in handy multiple times.

Why do you think someone poked ? Though it could happen, i would think a chances of a road hazard are more than someone intentionally vandalising.

okonomi · Post by **okonomi** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:44 am

Chakraan;376004Today I found a nail in my car tire. Took it to walmart tire and lube center (nearest) and I had to buy a new tire costing me $140 :cry:
Otherwise all my four tires are pretty new.Can some one purposely poke the nail for vandalising ?
What is your experience with the similar situation ?

Did Walmart give you the nail ? Mr. Monk ( :ewhat a TV junkie !!) would want to see that nail. And then do this experiment. Place that nail on a flat surface and roll a "grabby surface" over it. If it is your bad karma, 1 out of n times, the rubber (adhesive,grabby, frictional, what-have-you) surface will hit the head and make the nail stand on its sharp end for that fleetingest second, and go over it and "eat it". Soon after that, the wheel may still work for a very long time if the nail is perfectly sealing the hole it made; if there is no perfect plug, you'd have a slow leak and a sorry looking tire.

All of the above assumes that you are a nice person; had been one all your life and made no enemies who want to stick a nail in your tire.

However, here is the good news. If you did have enemies with nails to do you damage, they would have first given the paint job on the side of the car the necessary attention before impaling your tire with it for good measure. So relax and enjoy your new tires and your friends.

GutsyGibbon · Post by **GutsyGibbon** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:44 am

Chakraan;376004Today I found a nail in my car tire. Took it to walmart tire and lube center (nearest) and I had to buy a new tire costing me $140 :cry:
Otherwise all my four tires are pretty new.Can some one purposely poke the nail for vandalising ?
What is your experience with the similar situation ?

In that case they would slash all 4 tires. A good sharp knife can easily slash the side wall. Modern car tires do not have an inner tube. This could just be an unfortunate incident. One could swap the flat tire with the spare and order a fine cheap tire on Tirerack.com and get it installed.

honsum · Post by **honsum** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:06 am

It has happened twice to me in last one year. In both cases I had no doubt on anybody. I didn't replace the tires; just got them fixed.

GutsyGibbon · Post by **GutsyGibbon** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:31 am

honsum;376013It has happened twice to me in last one year. In both cases I had no doubt on anybody. I didn't replace the tires; just got them fixed.

A hole on the sidewall cannot be fixed. The hole has to be within the steel belt package.
Checkout a DIY on punctures. http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff/tirepluguzi.htm

rajanten · Post by **rajanten** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:03 am

I had this problem twice, once it was in the middle of the tire, took it to the discount tires shop and they fix free of cost. Second time it was on the side which is non repairable, as my other tires are brand new, I replaced with second hand tire.

honsum · Post by **honsum** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:45 am

Mine was in the center both the time.

GutsyGibbon;376015A hole on the sidewall cannot be fixed. The hole has to be within the steel belt package.
Checkout a DIY on punctures. http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff/tirepluguzi.htm

layman · Post by **layman** » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:11 pm

If it happens often, the place you are visiting often has nails on the floor. I recently removed 2 nails from my tire and my wife immediately said that she drove through a construction area just prior to that.

GutsyGibbon · Post by **GutsyGibbon** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:51 pm

honsum;376222Mine was in the center both the time.

If the tire was repaired earlier close to the new one, they do not fix it. If the nail stayed in the tire (run flat tire), and was driven for a while to disturb the steel belt, they do not fix it. Agreed - some places, desperate to sell you a tire, may replace a tire that is just fine. It would be good to feel the tire and see what exactly has caused the puncture. Also a good idea to keep a portable air pump (powered from power socket in the car), so that you can drive to a decent place to get a second opinion.

A friend of mine had an incident - On a deserted road near Phoenix, Arizona his new tire burst 100 yards before a tire shop. His friends who were following him also had a puncture. The tire shop dude sold new tires to both of them. Its anyone's guess as to how he would recycle these tires. This would be a good place to put some slimy tire seal, pump some air, and find a honest place. I carry something like this while on long drives. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Slime-16-oz-tubeless-tire-sealant/_/N-25zg?itemIdentifier=266787&_requestid=505971
You can also pump air with bicycle air pumps. Bicycle tires have 2 to 3 times the pressure of cars, so one could easily use that in emergencies.