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MG TD TF 1500 - Nail issue

I noticed a nail in a rear wheel, tubeless radial tire on my TF. The pressure has been maintained for 2000 miles now. Should I remove the nail or leave it?
Ron Coates

You can buy a kit at auto supply store which is a special fork tool and thin soft rubber strip (plug) that one inserts in the nail hole using the tool. It is a fairly common tire repair. Nail hole can not be in the edge of the tire that flexes a lot however.
John Quilter (TD8986)

In my opinion, I would only plug if emergency. I’m surprised you haven’t ruined the tire already. Pull the nail out and see if leaks. No leak, forget it. If leaks, take to tire shop. Correct way is to dismount tire, plug, grind plug flat, then patch inside. I had a plugged tire blow out years ago, not pretty. George
George Butz III

Last two times I have had a nail and took it to a tire shop they didn’t charge and the tires were not bought from them. Once was Big O, the other Les Schwab.
G D

My opinion is : don't play with safety. Fix the tire.

Laurent.
LC Laurent31

Since it has not leaked in 2000 miles, I could assume that it has not penetrated completely, or the nail is sealing very well. I am thinking the prior and should take George's advice, but I know the tire store will want me to buy a new tire if it does leak and this is a pretty new tire.
Ron Coates

If it hasn't penetrated yet, it will soon and then you'll be on the side of the road trying to switch to a spare that may not have adequate pressure because "Who checks the air in the spare?"

Get it fixed. If they try to sell you a new tire say "No." If they won't fix it, ask why and then go to a different store unless the reason is convincing such as "Nail is in the sidewall" or "tire is too worn to fix."

Ditti Laurent.

Jud
J K Chapin

Ron, how do you know how long the nail is?? It might just be the head and a short stub. If the damage is contained within the tread and doesn’t enter the body of the tire leave it out and sleep well at night. If it is long enough to penetrate the body of the tire, fix it. Until you pull it you cannot truly evaluate whether you need to repair the tire or not.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Reasons to replace a tire.

Penetration of the sidewall
Tread separation
Sidewall cracking
Pulled sidewall cord
Tread below legal limits
Abnormal tread wear
Beyond limits from date of manufacture
W A Chasser

Ron--There's only one plan for this--
Remove the nail, IF it doesn't leak you've fixed it
IF it leaks then the tyre has to come off, a hole is drilled through the punctured tyre and the inside of the tyre is ground up ready for a patch---There is a special mushroom shaped patch for this with a steel leading spike--Rubber glue to the inside of the tyre then the spike is poked through from the inside then pulled through from outside until the the flat mushroom head of the patch is flat against the tyre, then it's rolled flatonto the glue like a normal patch-then the dick poking out the outside is cut off level with the tread--wack the tyre back on and pump him up--

DON'T use one of those cheapy, poke in the hole sticky rope repairs----only for temporary emergencies.

willy
William Revit

I have never had a “temporary, pokey hole” repair in a daily driver fail before the tire was worn out. I have done this repair at least a dozen times. Perhaps those in the U.S. are better than down under. I don’t know.. this is just my personal experience to give folks something to consider. No disrespect to other poster’s experience is intended. I am not hesitant to use this product in the main tread area on any tubeless tire.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

I removed the nail. It turned out to be a short screw with a large head. The tire has maintained pressure since. I conclude it didn't penetrate far enough to be an issue.

My experience with having a nail removed at the tire shop is that they say it is too close to the side wall unless it is in the absolute central area. I have had them repaired for free in the past, but the motivation to sell another tire seems to have taken over.
Ron Coates

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2025 and 23/09/2025

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