Help guide
Nail in your tire: can you drive on it, and can it be fixed?
Updated October 8, 2026
Leave the nail in for now and check the tire pressure. If the tire is holding its pressure, a short, slow drive to a nearby shop is usually possible. Stop if the pressure drops. Whether it can be fixed comes down to one thing: where the nail went in.
Call (307) 365-2527First, do not pull it out
The nail is plugging the hole it made. Pull it and the tire can go flat in seconds, right where you are standing. Leave it until someone is ready to repair the tire.
Where is the nail?
| Where the nail went in | Can it be repaired? |
|---|---|
| The tread, the flat part that touches the road | Usually yes, if the hole is 1/4 inch or smaller. |
| The shoulder, where the tread curves into the side | No. Tire makers do not allow repairs there. |
| The sidewall | No. The tire has to be replaced. |
That rule comes from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association. A shop that says no to a sidewall repair is following it. A repair in the wrong spot can let go at speed.
Can you drive with a nail in your tire?
Check the air first. Then decide.
- Tire looks normal and holds its pressure. A short, slow drive to a nearby shop is usually possible. Go today. The hole lets water in and the tire will keep losing air.
- Tire is low. Add air and go straight to a shop, or have someone come to you.
- Tire is flat. Do not drive on it. Michelin says even a short distance on a flat tire can cause damage inside, and then a tire that could have been repaired has to be replaced.
What a proper repair looks like
The tire comes off the wheel so the inside can be checked. The hole is filled with a plug and sealed with a patch on the inside. The tire makers' group says a plug alone is not an acceptable repair.
A quick plug from the outside will get you moving, and sometimes that is what the moment calls for. Treat it as a short-term fix and have it finished properly. More in tire plug vs patch.
What about a can of tire sealant?
It can get you off the road in a pinch. The maker of Fix-a-Flat says it seals tread punctures up to 1/4 inch, calls it a temporary repair, and says to get a proper repair within 3 days or 100 miles. Consumer Reports found that aerosol cans struggled with bigger holes, and that the leftover goo has to be cleaned out by the shop. Tell the tech if you used it.
Where these facts come from
Checked on October 8, 2026.
Related help
- Tire plug vs patch: how long does a plug last?A plug alone is a short-term fix. The lasting tire repair is a plug and a patch together, done from inside the tire. Here is the difference and what to ask.
- Can you drive on a flat tire?Only far enough to get out of danger. Driving on a flat tire can ruin the tire from the inside and bend the wheel. Here is what to do instead.
- Flat tire repairA repair on the spot when the tire can be saved.