How is it possible that a nail punctures through the rubber and steel walls of a tire? I have never seen a nail (especially one with no head) standing up straight on the road. Have you? It is not even possible to stand some types of nails up on the road. How then, is it possible for the nail to get into the tire if it is laying down flat on the road?
pete mcdonald
web page: http://www.geocities.com/zpinaddict
Welcome to the board!
The explanation I heard is that if the front wheel runs over a nail, the nail can flip up momentarily - long enough to impale the rear wheel. That’s why it happens more often to the rear wheel, though I’d guess the car in front could flip the nail as well, puncturing your front wheel.
Good question.
My theory (just a theory!) is that most of the incidences occur as the result of driving on gravel. In gravel, a nail is often upright, or close to it.
I have found several nails in tires over the years. They do tend to be the back tires if memory serves. Anyway, most of the “nails” were more like tacks or roofing nails. They are short and stubby enough to snag the tire I guess. I did once find a rather lonf nail in the side of my tire. I think it found it’s way there in a more nefarious manner though.
i’ve had two long pine needles, and a headless nail find thier way into the back tire on my bicycle. I don’t really think my front tire could have kicked it up that much… but then im not one known to be a thinker…
my theory is that the tire companies set up little tiny nail holders all over the place, that way they make more money
There was an article in a recent 4X4 magazine that dealt with this subject. They showed a photo of a styrofoam board that a tire shop used to “display” some of the items they’ve removed from tires over the years.
Included were things like pliers, wire, nails- of course- the shifter handle from a 10-speed, screwdrivers, hinges, chunks of sheetmetal, bits of tubing, pens and keys.
Anyway, I don’t think there’s any “one way” the nail finds it’s mark. I think it’s a little of everything: the front tire or the preceeding car kicks it up, it’s held up by a little gravel, or even the nail’s bent and kinda naturally points up, or it’s short enough to get the point in, etc.
Most of the assorted nails and screws I’ve yanked out of tires have been badly bent. Assuming they weren’t straight to start with- when they hit the tire- I can easily see how it could lay with a point up.
When the tires are out peeing in the Amazon, nails have been known to follow the urine stream right into the tread!
A Brazilian auto mechanic has actual pictures of the nail removal on his website. WARNING: Explicit photos!