Published by Rims & Tires
Compiled & checked by the site's publisher from manufacturer, NHTSA & USTMA data · Updated 2026-08-01
Do not pull the nail out. It is plugging its own puncture, and removing it dumps whatever air is left in seconds. Check the pressure, and if the tire is holding close to normal and the nail sits in the tread rather than the sidewall, drive straight to a shop. A tread puncture up to 1/4 inch across is repairable under U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association criteria, typically for $15–30.
Should you pull the nail out of your tire?
No. The nail is plugging its own puncture, creating a seal that slows the air leak dramatically, sometimes to nearly nothing. Pulling it out removes that seal and releases whatever air is left in seconds.
Leave the nail exactly where it is and assess the situation. If the tire is still holding pressure (even just most of its air), you likely have time to drive carefully to a nearby tire shop.
Check the tire pressure if you have a gauge or can see the TPMS reading. If the tire is significantly low (under 20 PSI), use your spare instead of driving on it.
Can you drive to a shop with a nail in your tire?
If the tire is at or close to its normal pressure and the nail is in the tread (not the sidewall): yes, drive to a shop. Go directly, at normal speed, without highway driving if possible.
If the tire is losing pressure quickly: pull over safely, use your spare. Driving on a rapidly deflating tire risks sidewall damage that turns a $20 repair into a $150+ tire replacement.
If the nail is in the sidewall: this is not repairable regardless. Put your spare on — sidewall damage means a new tire.
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Is the nail in a repairable location?
Tread zone (center 3/4 of the tread face): repairable with a proper patch-plug. The most common nail location, and almost always fixable. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association limits repairs to the tread area and to injuries no greater than 1/4 inch (6mm) in diameter.
Shoulder area (where tread meets sidewall): not repairable. The stress on this zone is too high for a repair to hold.
Sidewall: never repairable. Replace the tire.
At a previous repair: if there is already a repair nearby, a second repair in the same area is typically not recommended. A shop will assess the specific situation.
What does a nail-in-tire repair cost?
A proper patch-plug repair at a tire shop is $15–30 in West Georgia. Takes about 30 minutes. The shop dismounts the tire, confirms the nail is in a repairable zone, patches from the inside, remounts, and balances.
If you bought the tires at that shop, flat repairs are often free. Worth asking when you call ahead.
Some tire shops (like America's Tire / Discount Tire) repair any tire for free, regardless of where it was purchased.
Frequently asked
Can I temporarily fix a nail in my tire at home?
A plug kit (available at auto parts stores) can temporarily seal the puncture from the outside, enough to get you to a shop. It's not a permanent repair. Don't use it as a long-term fix. If you use a sealant canister (like Fix-a-Flat), notify the shop. Sealant inside the tire can complicate the repair and needs to be cleaned out.
How long can I drive with a nail in my tire?
If the tire is holding pressure and the nail is in the tread: indefinitely short-term, but get to a shop the same day. A small, slow leak can drain the tire overnight. Do not leave a nailed tire unmonitored for days — a low tire is a flat tire waiting to happen.
Do I need to replace the tire or just repair it?
If the nail is in the tread zone and the tire has at least 4/32" of remaining tread, a repair is the right call. If the nail is in the sidewall, near a prior repair, or the tire is near end of life anyway, replacement makes more sense.
How big a puncture can actually be repaired?
A quarter inch, or 6mm, across. That is the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association's limit, and it covers the overwhelming majority of nails, screws, and staples people pick up. A bolt, a large screw, or a gash from road debris usually exceeds it, and past that diameter the tire gets replaced rather than repaired.
Does Fix-a-Flat ruin the tire?
It doesn't ruin the tire, but it complicates the repair and it isn't a fix. Aerosol sealant coats the inside of the tire, which has to be cleaned out before a patch will bond, and it can gum up a TPMS sensor sitting on the valve stem. Tell the shop you used it. Some charge a cleanup fee, and every one of them would rather know before they break the bead.
Should I call a mobile tire service for a nail in my tire?
If the tire is holding pressure and you can drive, just go to a shop — it is faster and cheaper. Mobile tire service makes sense when the tire is completely flat and you cannot safely mount your spare (no spare, bad spare, unfamiliar with the process, unsafe location).
Keep reading
Last updated 2026-08-01. General guidance only — confirm specifics with a local shop for your exact vehicle.