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 **** - 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.

 

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.