NAIL IN YOUR TIRE? CAN IT BE REPAIRED?
You find a nail or screw in a tire, or you wake up to a low one. Before you assume you need a new tire, it helps to know what makes a puncture repairable and what a proper repair looks like.
📞 Call and Tell Us What’s Going OnThe U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association says a repairable puncture cannot be larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) and must be in the tread area. A proper repair needs the tire taken off the wheel, the inside inspected, and a plug plus a patch. A plug alone is not an acceptable repair.
A tire can look fine from the outside and still be damaged on the inside, which is why the rules for repairs are strict. The guidance below comes from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). It is general information, not a diagnosis of your tire.
WHEN A PUNCTURE CAN BE REPAIRED
| Situation | What USTMA says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Hole bigger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) | Not repairable | Plan on replacing the tire |
| Damage reaches the shoulder or belt edge | Do not repair; take the tire out of service if in doubt | Replace the tire |
| Small puncture in the tread area | Can be repaired if the inside is clean | Have it inspected off the wheel |
| An earlier repair that was done improperly | The tire must be scrapped | Replace the tire |
WHAT A PROPER REPAIR INVOLVES
- The tire comes off the wheel so the inside can be inspected. USTMA says never to make an outside-in repair or an on-the-wheel repair.
- A plug and a patch. The plug fills the hole and the patch seals the inner liner. USTMA says a plug alone is an unacceptable repair.
- Repairs cannot overlap, and a tire that already has an improper repair should not be repaired again.
Some tire makers set their own limits, for example on run-flat tires, so the tire manufacturer's policy can be stricter than the general rules.
Do not keep driving on a flat tire. A tire with very low air is unsafe to drive on. Check the pressure, use the spare if you have one, or get it looked at soon. If a tire was driven low, the inside needs to be inspected before anyone can say it is repairable.
WHAT TO DO NOW
- Check the pressure. NHTSA says to check all tires, including the spare, at least once a month, when they are cold. The TPMS light only comes on when a tire is significantly low, so it does not replace that check.
- Look at where the puncture is. In the middle of the tread is a different situation from the edge of the tire or the side.
- Ask how the repair will be done. You are asking for the tire off the wheel, inspected inside, with a plug and a patch.
Lescaille Car Care repairs flat tires in Clifton: remove the nail and repair the hole, same day and no appointment needed. If the damage is outside what can be repaired, you will be told. See our tire shop page, and if the pressure light keeps coming on, our tire pressure light guide.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FLAT TIRE? CALL US
Tell us what happened: a nail, a screw, a slow leak or a tire that went flat
498 Lakeview Ave, Clifton NJ 07011 · Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm · Sat 8:30am–4pm
Sources: USTMA: Tire repair basics; NHTSA: Tires (read October 24, 2026. General information, not a diagnosis.)
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