Finding a nail or screw in a tyre prompts the same wrong instinct every time: pull it out. Usually that is exactly what not to do. The object is often plugging the hole it made, and the right move depends on whether the tyre is still holding pressure and where the object sits.
Leave it in, as a rule
A nail in the tread has frequently sealed its own puncture. While the tyre holds air, the safest plan is to leave the object in place and get to a garage, where the tyre can be taken off and repaired from the inside. Yanking it out roadside can convert a tyre that would have carried you to the garage into a fast leak on the spot.
The exception is when the tyre is already flat and a spare or sealant kit is going on anyway.
Check it is holding pressure
Before driving anywhere:
- Look at the tyre, is it visibly soft, or sitting normal?
- Check the pressure against the placard figure, per correct tyre pressure
- If it holds, drive straight to a garage, sensibly, and no further
- If it is dropping fast, treat it as a puncture to deal with now rather than driving on
Whether it can be repaired
Position decides it. A repair is only allowed in the central three-quarters of the tread, the repairable area of a tyre. A nail there, in a tyre that has not been run flat, is usually a straightforward plug-and-patch repair. A screw in the shoulder or sidewall, or a tyre driven on while soft, falls the other way, into the repair-or-replace decision.
From the workshop: the number of good tyres I've seen ruined because someone pulled the nail out in the car park... if it's up and holding, leave it, drive to me, and I'll do it properly from the inside. Pull it out and you've often bought yourself a recovery truck and sometimes a new tyre.
Sources and accuracy. This reflects standard repair practice and the British Standard repairable area at the time of writing. A tyre professional decides whether a specific tyre is repairable. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
Should I pull the nail out of my tyre?+
Usually no. A nail often plugs its own hole, so a tyre still holding pressure is safer left alone until a garage can repair it properly. Pulling it out can turn a slow seep into a fast leak and leave you stranded. The exception is if the tyre is already flat and you are fitting a spare or using a kit.
Can a tyre with a screw in it be repaired?+
Often, if the screw is in the central tread, the hole is small, and the tyre has not been driven on flat. A repair is not allowed in the sidewall or the outer shoulder, so the position of the object decides it. A tyre place will confirm once the tyre is off the wheel.
How long can I drive with a nail in my tyre?+
If the tyre is holding its pressure, drive straight to a garage and no further. Check the pressure before setting off and keep the speed sensible. A nail can stay sealed for miles or let go in minutes, so it is not something to leave for next week.
Is a nail in the tyre an MOT failure?+
Not in itself, but the damage it causes can be. A tyre losing pressure, repaired outside the permitted area, or worn below the limit will fail. A small object in sound central tread that has been properly repaired is fine.