Found a nail or screw in your tyre? Find out what to do, when it’s safe to drive, and when you need an immediate repair or replacement.

You pull up to a junction in Guildford, glance in your mirror, and notice something catching the light on your rear tyre. A nail. Or maybe it is a screw. Your stomach drops. The car is still moving. The tyre looks mostly fine. And you have twenty minutes until your next appointment.

So can you just carry on driving?

It is a question thousands of UK drivers face every year, and the answer is not quite as straightforward as a yes or a no. This guide walks you through everything you actually need to know, from what is happening inside that tyre right now, to when it is genuinely safe to drive a short distance, to when you should not move the car at all.

What Actually Happens When a Nail Enters Your Tyre

Most drivers assume a nail in the tyre means an immediate flat. That is not always the case, and understanding why changes how you react in the moment.

When a nail or screw punctures the tread, it often acts as its own plug at first. The metal fills the hole it created, slowing the rate of air loss dramatically. That is why so many drivers only discover the object after noticing a gradual loss of pressure over hours or even days, rather than a sudden deflation.

But here is what you cannot see. The moment any sharp object breaches the tyre wall, it begins compromising the internal structure. The steel belts, the fabric plies, the rubber liner, all of them absorb stress every single revolution of the wheel. What looks stable on the outside can be quietly deteriorating on the inside, especially at higher speeds or on longer journeys.

The three factors that determine how quickly things get worse:

1. Where the nail has entered (tread, shoulder, or sidewall)
2. Whether air is already escaping and at what rate
3. Whether you continue driving and for how long

The Honest Answer: Can You Drive on It?

Briefly, and only under very specific conditions. This is not a green light to carry on with your commute.

If the nail is embedded in the tread area and the tyre is not losing pressure rapidly, you may be able to drive cautiously for a short distance to reach a garage. However, prolonged driving significantly increases the risk of a blowout, particularly at motorway speeds.

The conditions under which a very short drive might be acceptable:

1. The nail is in the central tread area, not the shoulder or sidewall
2. The tyre is not visibly deflating or sitting lower than the others
3. You are travelling at low speed on a short route
4. You are heading directly to a tyre professional, not carrying on as normal

If your tyre pressure is dropping more than 5 PSI per hour, you should stop driving immediately. On routes through Guildford town centre or on the A3, stopping is far safer than risking a blowout in moving traffic.

What you should never do: remove the nail yourself before reaching a garage. Counterintuitive as it sounds, the nail is currently doing some of the sealing work. Pull it out and you may turn a slow puncture into a sudden flat on the road.

Why the Nail’s Location Changes Everything

Not all punctures are equal, and where the object has entered your tyre is the single most important factor in deciding what happens next.

Tread Zone (Central Three Quarters)

This is the most favourable outcome. Under British Standard BSAU159, a puncture can only be repaired within the central three quarters of the tyre, known as the minor repair area. Repairs outside this zone are considered too close to the sidewall.

If your nail has landed in this zone and the damage is under 6mm in diameter, a professional repair is likely possible. This is the scenario most drivers encounter when they pick up a nail on roads around Woking or Godalming.

Shoulder Zone

This area sits between the central tread and the sidewall. It flexes far more than the flat central section, which means any damage here is treated with far greater caution. Many tyre professionals will advise replacement rather than repair if the puncture sits in this zone.

Sidewall

If the damage is on the shoulder or sidewall, the tyre will need replacing. These areas flex far more than the central tread section, making them vulnerable to sudden blowouts if damaged. A sidewall puncture cannot be safely repaired under any circumstances. If your nail is here, do not drive the vehicle until the tyre has been replaced.

[Suggested image: simple diagram or table showing tread zone, shoulder zone, sidewall with repair status: Repairable, Professional judgement required, Must replace]

Puncture Location	Repair Possible?
Central tread (central 75%)	Yes, if under 6mm
Shoulder zone	No in most cases
Sidewall	No, replacement required

The Numbers Behind Tyre Safety in the UK

This is not a low-risk situation to brush off. The data on tyre-related incidents in the UK is sobering.

More than 51,500 tyre-related breakdowns occurred in 2023, a rise of 14 per cent in 2022, and one in five vehicle breakdowns on motorways and A roads result from tyre defects.

In fatal incidents where car tyres were identified as a causal factor, 75 per cent of tyre defects were linked to a lack of maintenance. That includes driving on a known puncture and delaying professional inspection.

A total of 159 people were killed or seriously injured in defective tyre-related accidents, and there were 5,594 convictions for defective tyres in 2024 alone.

Drivers in busy areas like Merrow, Burpham, and along the A25 corridor face these risks daily, particularly on roads where debris from construction and trade vehicles is common.

Screws vs Nails: Is There a Difference?

Most people use the words interchangeably but there is a practical difference worth knowing.

Nails tend to be smooth-shanked and enter the tyre cleanly. Screws, because of their threading, can cause more tearing as they work their way in through normal driving movement. A screw embedded in your tyre may widen its own hole slightly every time the tyre flexes, which is why screws can cause more damage than nails, and whether repair is the best option depends on how severe that damage is.

That said, both can be repairable if the puncture falls within the right zone and remains under 6mm in diameter. The key in either case is getting a professional to remove and inspect the damage properly, rather than assuming the worst or the best.

A few things to look out for when you first spot the object:

1. Is the tyre already visibly low or does it look like normal pressure?
2. Can you hear air escaping, even faintly?
3. Is the object sitting at an angle, suggesting it entered at speed?
4. Does the tyre feel different when you press down on it versus the others?

What to Do the Moment You Find It

Panic is understandable. But calm and methodical is what keeps you safe and keeps repair costs down. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Do not remove the nail or screw As covered above, the object may be slowing air loss. Leave it in place until you reach a professional.

Step 2: Check your tyre pressure immediately If you have a pressure gauge in the car, use it. If not, visually inspect whether the affected tyre looks lower than the others. If you experience sudden tyre pressure warnings or hear a rhythmic thumping noise that increases with speed, you likely have a puncture.

Step 3: Drive only if conditions allow If the tyre looks structurally sound, the pressure is holding, and you are a short, low-speed distance from a tyre professional in an area like Guildford, Shalford, or Send, a careful, direct drive may be acceptable. Keep your speed low and avoid the A3 or any dual carriageway.

Step 4: If in doubt, stop and pull over safely. Do not risk a blowout in moving traffic. If you have a spare tyre and know how to fit it safely, now is the time to use it. For guidance on how spare tyres work and what the legal requirements are, this guide to driving on a spare tyre covers everything you need to know before attempting a roadside swap.

Step 5: Contact a tyre professional Book an inspection as soon as possible. Do not leave a slow puncture for another day or another week.

Can the Tyre Be Repaired or Does It Need Replacing?

This is the question every driver wants answered quickly, and the honest answer is: only a professional can tell you after a proper inspection.

What the repair standards actually say: tyre repairs in the UK must follow British Standard BS AU 159, which defines what can and cannot be safely repaired. The puncture must be located within the central three quarters of the tread width.

If the diameter of the damaged area is larger than 6mm, a repair should not be attempted. This means it may be possible to repair a tyre pierced by a nail or screw, but if the damage is caused by a larger item such as a bolt or other metallic debris, the tyre may need replacing.

A fully repaired tyre, done to the BS AU 159 standard using a combination plug and patch method, is considered safe for continued road use. A string or rope plug repair done at the roadside is not considered a permanent or compliant fix in the UK.

When replacement is non-negotiable:

1. The puncture is in the sidewall or shoulder
2. The damage is larger than 6mm in diameter
3. The tyre has been driven on while significantly underinflated, causing internal damage
4. There is visible bulging, cracking, or exposed cord anywhere on the tyre
5. The tyre tread is already at or below the legal 1.6mm minimum

If the tyre does need replacing, it is also worth taking the opportunity to check the condition of your brakes at the same time. Tyre and brake health are closely connected, particularly in terms of stopping distances. You can read more about the signs your brakes need attention here.

Run Flat Tyres: A Different Set of Rules

If your car is fitted with run flat tyres, the situation is both better and more complicated at the same time.

Run flat tyres have reinforced sidewalls which means they can be driven on for a short time after picking up a puncture, allowing you to reach safety. However, when a run flat tyre picks up a puncture, it can be hard to tell whether the internal structure has been compromised, because the added strength masks that damage. For this reason, run flat tyres cannot usually be repaired after a puncture and will need to be replaced.

For run flat tyres, you can drive carefully at reduced speed, under 50mph, for up to 50 miles to reach safety. But this is not a reason to continue a full day’s driving. Get to a tyre centre in Guildford, Woking, or Jacobs Well as soon as practically possible.

Common vehicles fitted with run flat tyres as standard include many BMW and Mini models. If you are not sure whether your car has run flats, check the tyre sidewall for markings such as RFT, ROF, or SSR, or consult your vehicle handbook.

Tyre Maintenance Habits That Reduce the Risk

You cannot always avoid road debris, but you can dramatically reduce how damaging a puncture is when it does happen.

Tyres that are properly maintained lose pressure more slowly, give you more warning time, and are more likely to be in a repairable condition when you do pick up a nail. Neglected tyres with low tread or incorrect pressures turn a repairable puncture into a potential blowout.

More than 50 per cent of tyres on UK roads are underinflated, and an estimated one billion pounds worth of fuel is wasted annually as a result. Beyond fuel waste, underinflation means less structural resilience when a nail or screw enters the tyre, and greater internal heat build-up during driving.

The habits that make the biggest difference:

1. Check tyre pressure once a month and before longer journeys
2. Inspect all four tyres visually before driving, particularly in areas with active building work such as parts of Guildford town centre or the Normandy and Worplesdon corridors
3. Rotate tyres at recommended intervals to ensure even wear
4. Know your tread depth. The legal minimum is 1.6mm but performance degrades noticeably below 3mm
5. Replace tyres before they become a MOT concern, not after

For a full breakdown of how to make your tyres last longer and get more value from them, this practical tyre care guide is worth bookmarking.

Tread Depth	Wet Road Stopping Distance Increase vs New Tyre
8mm (new)	Baseline
3mm	Noticeably longer
1.6mm (legal minimum)	Significantly longer
Below 1.6mm	Illegal and dangerous

Local Roads and Why Guildford Drivers See This More Than They Think

Drivers across Guildford, Merrow, Shalford, Send, Burpham, Godalming, and the surrounding areas face a particular combination of conditions that make tyre punctures more common than in quieter rural areas.

Active construction sites, trade vehicles, and the general wear on roads through Woking and Jacobs Well mean that nails and screws work their way onto tarmac with some regularity. The A25, the A3100, and the network of B roads connecting villages like Normandy and Worplesdon carry a high daily volume of vans and light commercial vehicles, all of which contribute to road debris.

Spotting the early signs of a slow puncture matters even more on these roads. If you are driving through Guildford regularly, a monthly tyre pressure check and a quick visual inspection before longer journeys is not overcaution. It is simply smart motoring.

Conclusion

A nail or screw in your tyre is not necessarily a disaster, but it is always something to take seriously. The tyre might look fine from the outside, and it might still be holding most of its pressure. But internal damage, slow air loss, and the risk of a sudden blowout are all live possibilities that do not announce themselves until they become a problem at the worst possible moment.

Drive only if conditions genuinely allow it, keep the distance and speed to an absolute minimum, and head straight to a tyre professional for a proper inspection. Whether the outcome is a straightforward repair or a full replacement, getting it assessed quickly is always the right call. Your tyres are the only part of your car in contact with the road. Treat a puncture with the seriousness it deserves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to a garage with a nail in my tyre? Only if the tyre is not rapidly losing pressure and the nail is in the central tread area. Keep your speed low, take the most direct route, and do not use a motorway or dual carriageway. If you are unsure whether the tyre is safe to drive on, do not risk it.

Should I remove the nail myself? No. The nail may be slowing the air leak. Removing it without the right equipment and without inspecting the internal damage can turn a manageable slow puncture into an immediate flat. Leave it in place and let a professional handle the removal and inspection.

How do I know if my tyre can be repaired or needs replacing? Only a qualified tyre technician can confirm this after removing the object and inspecting the internal condition of the tyre. Under BS AU 159, the puncture must be in the central three quarters of the tread and under 6mm in diameter to be eligible for repair.

What happens if I drive too long on a nail in the tyre? The internal structure of the tyre can be damaged beyond repair. What might have been a straightforward, low-cost puncture repair can become a full tyre replacement. In worse cases, continued driving leads to a blowout.

Will a nail in my tyre fail an MOT? Yes. Any damage that compromises the structural integrity of a tyre will result in an MOT failure. This includes punctures that have not been properly repaired, visible damage to the sidewall, and tread depth below the legal 1.6mm minimum.

Can a screw cause more damage than a nail? Potentially yes. Because of its threading, a screw can widen the hole it creates as the tyre rotates and flexes during driving. Both are repairable if the conditions are right, but a screw that has been driven on for longer may have caused more internal damage than a freshly discovered nail.

Is it illegal to drive with a damaged tyre in the UK? Yes. Driving on a tyre that is not roadworthy is illegal under UK law and can result in a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre. If you are involved in an accident with a defective tyre, it can also affect your insurance position significantly. For the full legal position on tyre standards, GOV.UK sets out the requirements clearly.