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Discovered a screw on the shoulder of the car tyre at the airport on Thursday, didn't appear to have leaked over the weekend so added a little air and drove back home carefully. TPMS system beeped after about 15 mins of driving, pulled over and checked all 4 tyres but all still at the correct pressure. Took the screw out today and it's about 13 mm, no apparent leaks when dabbing soapy water over the hole - how comfortable should I be driving around without replacing them?
I fixed a similar hole with a tubeless repair anchovy while we were in France and it lasted the life of the car.
It will definitely leak now that you've removed the screw so I'd make plans for fixing it.
I was going to write something vaguely technical, but honestly, its tyres. If in any doubt get it checked out by a garage. It'll probably be ok, but can't say for sure.
It's more on the tread than the sidewall, but it's at that point where one becomes the other.
Tyre shop and get it looked at properly.
This is not a place to scrimp.
If the screw is only 13mm long and through a thick bit of rubber maybe it's ok.
Would I trust my life and other people's to not getting it inspected properly. Definitely not.
It’s more on the tread than the sidewall, but it’s at that point where one becomes the other.
That'll be new tyre time then.
Some punctures an be fixed if they're towards the centre of the tread, but stuff near the edge tends to mean a replacement tyres. Ask me how I know both this, and the exact cost of a new Bridgestone Turanza 6...
When you are next driving at 80mph in the third lane of a motorway. Ask yourself (or perhaps mention to any passengers) the very same question!
rule of thumb is central 2/3 of tyre is OK, beyond that and it's new tyre.
vs a blowout at speed, I don't risk it. My life and family's life is worth more than a couple of hundred quid on tyres.
If it’s outside the central 3/4 of the tread then it’s considered a major repair. Most tyre fitters won’t do major repairs
Personally I wouldn’t be happy just leaving it- get it checked out as said a few times above.
see Kwik Fit link
https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/can-my-punctured-tyre-be-repaired#
Not worth a blow out at motorway speeds, especially if you've got your family in the car. This is coming from someone who had a blow out in the third lane on the M6 in the winter in the dark. Even though I managed to get the car over to the hard shoulder without nothing worse than soiled underwear, it's not something i'd want to repeat. Changing the wheel was not pleasant either.
Changing the wheel was not pleasant either.
Did you do it yourself? I had a puncture, admittedly on A3 but still a 3 lane 70mph trunk road, I used the emergency phone and the black and fluo traffic guys came out very quickly. Then they closed a lane off to give me a spare lane to enable the change and they said on a motorway they'd probably just lift it off to a service station or exit for safety (not sure why being hit by a truck on an A road is less likely than a M'way but there you go)
As above, this is a major repair. Most places only do minor. They won't tell you that, they'll just sell you a new tyre. However, if there is somewhere near you who does major repairs and they say they can fix it, it will be fine.
Do it, it'll let you down whenever you don't need it to. it'll be wet, cold and far from home..
If you call recovery for any reason, you'll be waiting a very long time
Had a rear go on my bmw at speed, luckily it was rear, and the car was a tank so no sudden loss of control
still a pain in butt
Fair points all, already had the replacements booked in but as it hadn't lost pressure at any point even after the screw came out I did wonder if it was worth £350!
Some tyre shops will repair it, got it done about 10 years ago on a nearly new tyre. Had to be re-vulcanised. Still cost £50 but way cheaper than a new tyre.
Discovered a screw on the shoulder of the car tyre...
Replace it. That is the part of the tyre that experiences the most load, flexing and therefore heat build-up. The longer you drive on it the higher the chance of it developing into a split, tear or blowout. Even if it hasn't gone trough to the base layer and caused an air leak at 13mm long it will have done some damage, even if it's just a hole to the steel cords. If it has reached the cords then when driving in the wet water will be forced inside the carcass, either causing a delamination or generating rust, that can lead to a failure.
Having been a passenger in a car when a blowout happens (Seat Ibiza as a passenger) and had it rattle down the barriers at motorway speeds take it from me it's not a pleasant experience.
If it’s leaking I’d replace the tyre. If not I’d leave it.
When you are next driving at 80mph in the third lane of a motorway. Ask yourself (or perhaps mention to any passengers)
the very same questionshould I slow down and change lane as I’m somewhat over the speed limit and am way over in the right hand lane when the others are empty?