mounted new wheels and tires but found a nail PICS
 

i like the look better than my old bbs but as i was applying tire shine with an old sock my finger hit something hard, a nail, it's at an odd angle. do you guys think i can pull it out or did it puncture the tire, my friends are mixed here, i think i need a new tire.

ps. yes i know i fail at cameras

hmm, you could pull it and see what happens, or have the tire removed, then you'll be able to see if it went all the way through. You can probably remove the nail and put a plug in it's place.

I've plugged worse. Pull it, plug it.

i'm not sure how to plug it, it's got an entrance and exit wound, i've only ever plugged a hole straight through the tread.

2 plugs?

I dunno, but at my discount tire they would refuse to fix something like that.

remove the nail, then stick a plug through the hole, letting it hang out on both ends. Then trim it back on both ends.

those tires look weathered. Have fun drifting.

they're my street tires, i have azenis on my 14" bbs

just get the little $5 kit they sell. plug both holes. I've plugged worse.

don't plug it.

i bet the nail never punctured the tire carcass just the tread block.

put soapy water on it. wiggle it. if it doesn't bubble/leak your golden and pull it out.

if it bubbles your screwed.

don't be such a pussy. It will be fine.

Take the tire off and have it patched.

You'd have to do it yourself since some states won't allow shops to fix a puncture on the sidewall.

go to the barrio.

i've pulled stuff from tires that was imbedded in a similar manor and it didn't puncture all the way through.

i don't know if i want to bother i just came home from easter dinner at the girls house and the three tires without the nail look like their almost flat, they probably have nails too.

some junk yard and shops will pull the wheel off, pull it, and plug it, for about 5 dollars

call around, try that

I worked with tires for many years and saw this kind of thing a lot. From the looks of it it probably has gone through the tire, but the only way to be sure is to pull the nail out. No one will plug thsi tire for you. Personally I would not plug this tire or drive on it for safety reasons. You never should plug a tire if the cut or hole is on the side wall or very edge of the tire like yours is. I personally think the tire is destroyed. The nail pierced through but because it went in and came back out it is still holding air. It can also be fine if the tire has a thick enough edge with lots of rubber on and might still be ok. Just pull the nail either way. You don't want to be driving on it this way.

lol this reminds me of an mnet question. no offense

guys i work at a mercedes dealership, i have 30 techs whom i sell tires to all day long, i know it isn't recommended to repair this tire, we wouldn't do it either. My original question was whether it punctured the tire or not. I'm not going to plug the tire, never intended to.

Plug that shit - I got one just like that on a Gap trip - no shops in the area would plug it, and of course no one had my tires... (6hrs from home) Quick trip to walmart and 20 mins in a hotel parking lot and it was golden - lasted the duration of what was left of the tire life w/no leaks...

Just try it, if it doesnt work out at least you tried and if it works out well good for you, you just saved money for not buying a new tire.

so leave the nail in and carry a patch kit. or a spare. big deal.

also some places dont even pull the tire off to patch it...

For what it is worth-
Don't drive on questionable tires, when in doubt, just replace them. It is cheaper to replace a tire then to replace a car.
I also don't drive when the brakes are not right. The conscequences of failure is just to great (and the cost to fix them right is so small).
But then again, maybe you don't drive yours like I do mine. I love lateral G's.

Test it for leaks with soapy water, if it doesn't leak pull it out. It will be fine. I see this at least once a week, I pull it out and send them on their way. Never had one come back.

wassup bitches
 

pulled it out and no leaks, ordered a set of T1R's anyway.

With the head completely gone like that (and worn smooth besides), it's been in there a while. You could still plug it just for insurance.

I'd run those tires without thinking twice.

the T1's have a lot of rubber on the edges, so you should be fine. but I would put it on the rear of the car in case it does decide to weaken and come apart on you under heated driving. I had a nail just like that in my Jeep's left rear for 2 years and was fine until I replaced them in January, but there is a reason I only run bfg's on my cars.

How would you patch a tire with it still on the car? Any patches I ever did as a tire tech involved dismounting the tire and patching from the inside.

Glad it wasn't leaking though, OP. FWIW I carry a plug kit, cig-lighter compressor, and set of wire cutters everywhere, instead of a spare :)

Duh! You carry a jack and a portable bead breaker. Course you'll need an air over hydraulic setup and an air compressor too....

Ok, maybe he meant plug it.

LOL, he meant a plug kit.

i think you will need a new one

only one thing left to do with that tire...burnout

This explain very clearly. :D