Screw in Tire: All You Need To Overcome This Challenge

When there’s a screw in tire, your whole driving experience can turn upside down. You can replace the affected tire or plug the hole as quickly as possible.

You can also take the car to a mechanic to fix the hole in the tire. This comprehensive guide sheds light on all possible causes and their ideal solutions therefore, stay tuned!

Three Common Causes of Screws in Your Tire

Three common causes of screws in your tire include driving over screws on roads, screws in water puddles and screws concealed in wooden planks. These sharp objects are hard to detect and can be present almost anywhere, making them quite difficult to avoid.

– Driving Over Screws on Roads

Driving over screws on roads is the most likely way of getting screws in your tire. You can unknowingly pick up screws in your tire while driving on the road or off roads.

However, one notable thing with screw-in-tire problems is that they mostly occur in the rear wheels of vehicles. This is because, most times, the vehicle’s front wheel flips a screw over, making the screw well-positioned to pierce a tire. By the time the rear wheels pass over the screw, they get pierced easily.

Smaller screws are usually responsible for these problems because they easily stand vertically erect on the road due to their center of gravity. They usually lodge in-between tire treads. However, they don’t do much damage like big screws.

– Screws in Water Puddles

You may also encounter screws when driving through water puddles on the road. In these cases, you won’t even realize or suspect a thing because they’ll be well hidden beneath the water.

Sometimes, these screws may lie in a position or an angle that allows easy penetration due to the disturbance in the puddle. It’s always good to check your tires for screw or nail punctures after driving through a road filled with puddles.

– Screws Concealed in Wooden Planks

Wooden planks can also harbor screws that may ruin your tires. Here, the plank gives the screws the required stability to stay upright. Whenever you drive over screw-infested planks, if the plank is strong enough and the screw is protruding out of it, the screw will pierce your wheels, leaving you with a hole and a leaking tire.

However, some planks contain screws hidden within them. If you drive over these planks, the wood may easily crumble under the vehicle’s weight, and the screw will get lodged inside your tires. As you continue driving, the screws may dig further into your tires.

How Do You Fix a Screw in Your Tire?

You can fix a screw in a tire in three ways: replace the affected tire, plug the hole, or take the vehicle to a tire mechanic for proper repair. The best way to fix a screw in a tire during an emergency is to plug the hole.

– Locate the Screw and Remove it

The first step to fixing your tire is to locate the screw and remove it using a plug kit. A plug kit contains all the necessary items like pliers, tire plugs, and a rasp tool. You can use the pliers to extract the nail from your tire.

You’ll have to remove the tire if you can’t access the nail freely due to its position. To do this, get your car jack and use it to lift your car. Next, unbolt the lug nuts one by one, and take your car tire off once the nuts are all undone.

Now you have your tire out. You should be able to properly observe the puncture site and determine whether or not you can fix it with a plug. Plugs are best recommended for small punctures. If you can fix the issue by plugging, remove the screw with your pliers (needle nose pliers are recommended).

– Prepare the Puncture Site for Plugging

You need to prepare the puncture site for plugging. To do this, insert the rasp tool into the hole, and turn it. This creates rough edges: the rubber plug will hold on to these edges and stay put.

It’s important to prepare the hole for plugging because otherwise, your plug may come off right after installation.

– Prepare Your Tire and Insert the Plug Strip to Seal the Hole

After taking out the rasp tool, push the plug into the hole. All plugs come with insertion needles. This needle helps you push the plug in rasp tool without any trouble.

Ensure you push the plug deep into the tire but not all the way through. Once you have inserted the plug, pull out the needle.

– Inflate Your Tire and Check for Any Leaks

To inflate your tire, you need an inflator and a gauge. The inflator pumps in air while the gauge tells you the amount of air pressure in your tire. First, remove the cap from your tire valve, then pump it using the inflator. Once you reach the recommended level, stop pumping and close the valve.

You can know your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure by checking your owner’s manual or a sticker inside the driver’s door.

– Nip off Any Excess Plug Strip and Dismount The Jack Stand

After plugging the tire puncture successfully, you need to cut off the excess strip sticking out of the plugged hole. You can still use your pliers for this. Doing this helps keep the plug hidden (providing a nice finish) while also preventing it from pulling out when you’re driving.

It’s important to note that these plugs aren’t designed to last forever. They’re only meant to rescue you during emergencies. After plugging your tire, it is advised that you still take it to a mechanic as soon as possible to fix it properly. Also, sometimes using a plug improperly or in the wrong area might cause more damage to your tire.

– Replace the Affected Tire

Replacing the affected tire is recommended when a screw puncture seems irreparable with a plug or when you don’t even have a plugging kit in the first place. Car owners are always advised to carry spare tires wherever they go in case they get a screw in their tire or a flat tire.

To replace a tire, all you need to do is remove the affected one using your car jack and install the replacement.

FAQs

– Is It Advisable to Plug or Patch a Tire That Is Punctured?

Yes, it is advisable to plug or patch a tire that is punctured. However, this tire repair method is temporary. Also, you can only drive a plugged tire safely for eight miles or less. A better option is to replace it with a spare.

– What Kind of Screws Would Be Able to Puncture a Tire?

Short screws are the most common type of screws that penetrate tires. Generally, a screw only needs to be ¼ inch long to pierce a tire. This is why you should always check your tires for any foreign objects that may be lodged in them.

– Is Driving a Car With a Screw in the Tire Safe?

No, driving a car with a screw in the tire isn’t safe. Doing so will only make the screw wear the tire more. Before you know it, you’ll have a deflated tire or even suffer a blowout. You should try to fix tire holes as soon as you discover them.

– When to Not Repair Screw in a Tire?

You should not repair screw in a tire when the hole is located at the shoulders of the tire. Patching a tire at these locations will cause a blowout while driving. In situations like these, it’s best to visit a mechanic to get your tire repaired or replaced.

– Do Car Insurances Cover Punctured Tires?

No, car insurances do not cover the fixing or replacement of your tire if it’s punctured. If you must pay to repair tire holes, you’ll have to foot the bills yourself. A car insurance company will only pay for it if your car was involved in an accident.

Conclusion

Having a screw stuck in your tire can be disturbing because driving such a car would put you at risk of a blowout.

Here’s a summary of how to fix things whenever you find yourself in such a situation.

• Remove the screw using a plier. You may have to remove the tire if the screw is lodged in the inner places you can’t reach.
• Get your plug ready, and get the surface ready for plugging.
• Plug the hole and clip off the excess protruding part.
• Inflate your tire as required and drive on. Remember to travel short distances only, with moderate speed.
• Get a mechanic to repair the tire properly if it seems too bad to be patched, or replace it if you have an extra one.

As a final precaution, always inspect your tires for leaks, piercings, or debris. That way, you won’t get stranded on the road by a punctured or deflated tire.