Hi,<p>Went to check pressure/put air in the tires today, and noticed a nail in the rear left tire. The exposed head of the nail doesn't look too big, but its definitely significant. Pretty sure it got there quite recently cuz it wasn't there when i washed my car about 4 days ago. Anyways, the pressure was fine in ALL the tires, but i was wondering if the tire could still be used if they took out the nail?<p>I'm definitely gonna take it to a professional to have them look at it on Monday, but would like to know whether or not its a possibility that the tire could be saved. It's a Bridgestone S-02 PP in 225/45/17 if it matters.<p>Is this kind of damage repairable (depending on the damage)? Or is it safest to buy a new tire?<p><br>Thanks for any info!!<p>-steve=)<br>

maybe, my experience dictates that if the nail is in the sidewall the tire can not be safely repaired but if the nail is in the tread, the hole can be patched.<p>Goodluck

If the nail is in the tread and not the sidewall then a "plug-patch" will repair it. They have to dismount the tire and place plug-patch from inside the tire. I've had it done many times and it is the only method o.k.'d by the tire association.

As Mike mentioned, if the nail is in the sidewall, or near to it<br>(less than 1" from the sidewall), the tire cannot be repaired. One<br>other problem which you can have is the nail itself. While it may<br>be in a repairable spot, if the end inside your tire was rubbing<br>the sidewall, the tire could also be ruined.<p>You could either have the tire plugged (where they remove the nail<br>and put in a rubber plug in it's place) or patched (where they<br>remove the tire and place a patch over the hole from the inside.<br>Contrary to most popular belief, a patch is not necessarily any<br>better (our family owns a tire store, so I know). If you ever drive<br>in gravel (such as on a sanded winter road), the gravel can work<br>it's way through the hole and rub against the patch, causing it<br>to fail. This cannot happen with a plug. I have personally put<br>plugs in all my tires for years (including some S-02's) and have<br>never had a problem with them (since I get repairs for free from the<br>family business, I have no need to use plugs for economy's sake).<p>BTW, if the tire is ruined, Bridgestone will cover it under their<br>road hazzard warranty. Basically, they'll measure the tread you<br>used and charge you a replacement fee based on how much you used<br>it. Your dealer will have to take the tire off and make sure it's<br>not repairable (and they will have to prove it the their local<br>warehouse), so some dealers might try to tell you they can fix it<br>to save the hassle. Don't accept this if you think the tire is<br>ruined.<br>