how bad is a

[thecrash91]

screw in my tire? im trying to save money asap (college student) to buy new tires. found a screw in my tire today, pretty big, noticed my air was really low after coming home from a week of vacation, pumped it, put in flat fixer then saw the screw today. its all the way in, not sure if its vandalism or if i ran it over. but i want to know if it is really dangerous driving with it? the way i see it is it can either pop out, or go ALL the way in thus leaving a hole there and massive deflation, which can end up in a bent rim, and possible loss of control if im at higher speeds. what is your guys take on this? my bank account is currently at 120$ since i am between jobs right now (summer vacation from college) and i start working in a few days, so you guys think a week or two would be ok with the screw in the tire? its drivers side front of that matters, i was also thinking of rotating them thus eliminating it being a front tire.

 

[MSPBrett]

i would recomend switching it to a back wheel so its not on the front. absolutly leave the screw in no matter what[for now], save your money then buy new tires. .... another option pending how much tread is left on you current tires but a patch might be a good plan seein the money issue. and we all got the money issue. lol

 

[thecrash91]

well the head of the screw is about the size of a penny, not sure how long or wide the screw is were its threaded. they are khumo ecstaca asx' so there really not that great of a tire to begin with, and not much tread on them left (not even a year after purchase) so i might just pick up a set of 4 nice tires when i get the cash, or even try and find some used msp racing harts with tires already on them

 

[protege321]

i would avoid driving at highway speeds with a screw in your tire. should be fine until you have money to replace it as long as it stays in.

+1 to the money issue.

 

[NateTheGreat]

I've actually had a screw come out of my tire at highway speeds (65ish mph) and it can be pretty catastrophic of you're not in the far right lane. I was "lucky" in that it was a rear tire and in low traffic. I just went to the local sketchy-looking auto shop and had it plugged for $5, but my dad has had pretty good luck with a reusable $10 DIY kit from Advance/Autozone, something like this:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/accessories/accessoriesShelf.jsp?categoryDisplayName=Repair+and+Lift&fromType=accessories&fromString=search&parentId=43-10&filterByKeyWord=tire+plug&currentPage=1&navValue=100247&categoryNValue=100043&fromWhere=&itemId=247-10&displayName=Tire+Plugger+Kit

I completely understand being tight on money, but a sudden loss of pressure in a tire is something I wouldn't wish on anybody.

 

[flash75]

I would take it to a tire shop and have it repaired. I would not continue driving
a vehicle with a screw in a tire. A good tire shop will remove the tire and patch
the hole inside. Usually costs $10-$15 in my area.

Clifton

 

[pw~mp5]

Like everyone said, leave the screw in until you get it fixed. I have never had one patched, I have always had them plugged which usually costs about $5 and does not require removing the tire from the car and takes only a couple of minutes. I have had a piece of metal over 3/8" in diameter before stuck in the tire before. The guy who plugged it wasn't sure it would hold but it lasted over 25,000 miles til the normal time to replace the tires and it never leaked.

 

[P5Rydah]

at least get it plugged. you can even get a plug kit and do it yourself. as the screw continuously hits the pavement, it will eventually grind itself down. and put that wheel in the back in case of a blowout you will still have control of the car. as long as its in the tread and not the sidewall you can ride with it plugged for a long time

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

at least get it plugged. you can even get a plug kit and do it yourself. as the screw continuously hits the pavement, it will eventually grind itself down. and put that wheel in the back in case of a blowout you will still have control of the car. as long as its in the tread and not the sidewall you can ride with it plugged for a long time

x2.........I travel with plug kit, cig lighter pump, pliers to pull stuff out with. I don't do spare unless unpluggable flat. Plugged > spare.

 

[pasadena_commut]

Plugged > spare.

Maybe that math holds for the very short term, but plugged < patched for the long term. My P5 came used with a tire with a bad plug job. It was really mysterious since I didn't know it was in there and from time to time the tire would drop 10PSI for no apparent reason. It doesn't cost very much to have a tire pulled and patched properly.

Is the screw in the tread or the sidewall? Tread punctures can be repaired, but sidewall punctured tires should be replaced.

 

[JDMJNKY]

Just buy a plug kit and do it yourslef been there done that took me about 10-15 min's.

 

[slavrenz]

Maybe that math holds for the very short term, but plugged < patched for the long term. My P5 came used with a tire with a bad plug job. It was really mysterious since I didn't know it was in there and from time to time the tire would drop 10PSI for no apparent reason. It doesn't cost very much to have a tire pulled and patched properly.

Is the screw in the tread or the sidewall? Tread punctures can be repaired, but sidewall punctured tires should be replaced.

He didn't say that a patch is worse than the plug - he said that the spare is worse than a plug.

I agree with both of you.

 

[Ride92]

I second, or third or fourth what ever it's up to know on getting it fixed asap. I use to roof in the summer and would pick up a nail a year on average from the job sites. The do-it-yourself plugs work really well, never had a problem with them, or just go to a tire shop and have them take car of it. If it's in the tread you'll be able to repair it, if it's in the side wall you'll have to replace the tire.

 

[thecrash91]

cool, thanks guys. ill take it to mavis or something today or tomorrow, the 15 bucks to patch or plug it i can definitely afford

 

[localkineguy]

I would take it to a tire shop and have it repaired. I would not continue driving
a vehicle with a screw in a tire. A good tire shop will remove the tire and patch
the hole inside. Usually costs $10-$15 in my area.

Clifton

I like this answer the best. I had a stuck screw (didn't know it was there) shoot out of my tire on the freeway. It was on the rear driver side. I actually didn't notice much of a difference in handling and speed, but honestly $50 max is well worth avoiding any crashes/injuries

 

[thecrash91]

took it to mavis today, the ****** mechanic told me all four tires are "bald" and i said "um no, they arent" and he goes "uhh alright, yeah not totally" ****** liar, tryin to take more money, then he says all four brakes are "completely shot" i stopped pretty fast on the way home to reassure my girlfriend they are fine, just a bit warped, and as long as they stop me they are fine. bastard. regardless he wouldnt get my business for brakes anyway, thats something i can accomplish myself

 

[slavrenz]

took it to mavis today, the ****** mechanic told me all four tires are "bald" and i said "um no, they arent" and he goes "uhh alright, yeah not totally" ****** liar, tryin to take more money, then he says all four brakes are "completely shot" i stopped pretty fast on the way home to reassure my girlfriend they are fine, just a bit warped, and as long as they stop me they are fine. bastard. regardless he wouldnt get my business for brakes anyway, thats something i can accomplish myself

did he patch the tire? He sounds like a real low-life. Classic scam artist.

 

[thecrash91]

i dont think it was him who patched it, i think he was probably the highered scam artist

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

My comments about plug vs. patch vs. spare were made in respect to being out on the road stuck somewhere. It is easier to plug the tire, fill it and keep going somewhere where a more permanent repair can be made. A plugged full size tire is a much safer way to get there IMO than ******* with a smaller skinnier less treaded 50 mile max donut balloon or some dry rotted full size tire riding under the vehicle for years. Quicker to be done and on the way again. Not sure about anyone else but I'm spending the least amount of time possible on the side of any roads waiting for stupid or drunk people to hit me. Of course a patch is better. Duh, the rubber cement, air pressure inside the tire and centrifugal force keep it in place. Just the opposite with a plug, air pressure and centrifugal force trying to push it out. The equalizer is using tire cement on the plug to seal it and keep it in place. Never had an issue with one, even leaving it that way until the tire wore down year later. Now, on the race track or especially off roading, the patch is king...If done right, it doesn't ******* matter on a vehicle just sticking to speed limits on pavement in a non-race format.

 

[slavrenz]

My comments about plug vs. patch vs. spare were made in respect to being out on the road stuck somewhere. It is easier to plug the tire, fill it and keep going somewhere where a more permanent repair can be made. A plugged full size tire is a much safer way to get there IMO than ******* with a smaller skinnier less treaded 50 mile max donut balloon or some dry rotted full size tire riding under the vehicle for years. Quicker to be done and on the way again. Not sure about anyone else but I'm spending the least amount of time possible on the side of any roads waiting for stupid or drunk people to hit me. Of course a patch is better. Duh, the rubber cement, air pressure inside the tire and centrifugal force keep it in place. Just the opposite with a plug, air pressure and centrifugal force trying to push it out. The equalizer is using tire cement on the plug to seal it and keep it in place. Never had an issue with one, even leaving it that way until the tire wore down year later. Now, on the race track or especially off roading, the patch is king...If done right, it doesn't ******* matter on a vehicle just sticking to speed limits on pavement in a non-race format.

This reminded me of a self-proclaimed "car expert" neighbor that I use to have.. He came over one day to ask me to help him patch a tire, because for some reason, the patch wouldn't hold. I get over there and find out that he was trying to apply the patch to the outside of the tire, in the tread.

+1 about stupid drunk people.