A nail in the tire tread can usually be patched, but one in the shoulder or sidewall means you need a new tire. Those areas flex too much while driving, so any repair fails. Mike Melton of Speedy Tire explains how he assesses hole size, location, and tire condition to decide.
That's a tiny-ass nail in your tire, but it's where it's located at if it's repairable or not. So if it's in the middle of the tread, there's a pretty good chance that it's repairable. But once it gets over to the shoulder of the tire or into the sidewall, non-negotiable, needs to be replaced. And I know you want to know why. It's because that part of the tire bends and moves as you drive. That is a non-repairable area. It will fail. I'm Mike Melton with Speedy Tire in Lincolnton, North Carolina. We don't just decide on how the damn tire looks. We decide on where the damage is. How big's the hole? How small's the hole? What kind of— where's the location at? Is it on the sidewall? Is it on the middle of the tread? Is it in the shoulder? If it's in the shoulder or in the sidewall, you're going to need a new tire. That's just it. That's just how it is.
