Screw Embedded in Tire But NO Air Loss. What to do?

I was doing my weekly tire inspection on my 2023 4Runner and found this screw embedded in the right rear tire (original Bridgestone Dueler). The tire is not losing any air but I'm worried about pulling the screw out and air escaping. I'm planning on doing this near a Tire Choice shop where they can patch the hole if necessary.

How compromised do you think the tire is even if there happens to be no hole going through the tire?

That screw is right into the tire itself, not just the thread, and that must have weakened the tire. Should I have the tire shop remove the tire and put a patch where the screw is anyway?

Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

Pull it and if it leaks install the spare then plug it when you have time. It's not hard to do.

The more you drive with it in the deeper it will go

 

It should be easily fixable in tire shop. On the side note I had nail in the tire between the threads too, just pulled it and run tires for next 4 years without any issues. But I has C load Duratracs - they are stronger than Duelers.

 

Leave it and go to a tire shop. That will help them with location. They should be able to patch it.

 

I've actually done this without even removing the tire. It's difficult, but not impossible. If you don't have the leverage, take the tire off and then you have the ability to push with all your weight. Everyone should have one of these kits for emergencies. I actually bought the heavy duty one to store in my recovery gear.
Brand new BFGs that I had to plug. This one has several thousand miles on it.

 

Patches from tire shops are very inexpensive - around $30 and they can do it while you wait so long as they aren't busy. I usually just keep on hand a plug kit though and DIY it whenever I (or my wife usually) gets a nail/screw in my tire. One of my wife's tires has like 3-4 plugs in it from when they were doing construction around her work and it never leaks or has any issues.

 

Plugging a tire is real easy to do and a helpful skill to have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE-hTsQIrFk

I've even used a drill to help ream the hole to make it easier to get the plug in.

Last fall I taught my son how to do it after he picked up a nail in his tire.

 

Great recommendation on using the drill. The reaming tool those kits comes with is next to impossible to use when you have a floppy tire.

 

Yeah it seems a little weird, using a drill to make a bigger hole to plug the hole in the tire but it really makes the job easier. I have two plugs in different tires on different vehicles that have lasted years.

 

Correct. Radial tires shouldn't be plugged. They should be patched as long as the hole isn't less than an inch from the side wall.

 

Good advice! I'll buy a plug kit.

I think it would be an easy fix too at a shop. I may do that.

That's what I was thinking. I may also buy a plug kit.

I've never used a plug kit but I'm willing to learn. "Your Car Angel" Greg Mackee has a video on how to do this. Thank you.

I will buy a plug kit and pull it out near a tire shop. I may get it repaired or try to plug it myself. Thanks!

It would be a very helpful skill to have. I'm going to buy a plug kit and if I'm brave enough I'll plug it if it leaks! Thank you.

 

I hadn't thought of the radial cords going around the tire. But is anyone running bias ply tires anymore? Hmmm. Maybe the shop is the best way to go. Thanks for this.

 

While a tire patch at a tire shop is the proper way, I have plugged a dozen+ tires of all types over the years, never a problem as long as it is not in the sidewall. I carry a plug kit in all my vehicles. Have plugged tires while on the car many times. Just me…old school. Everyone should only do what they are comfortable with.

 

Last time I got a patch (radial) at a Firestone, they unmounted and put a mushroom plug in from the inside. Isn’t that what all shops do? There’s already a hole in the tire, so I guessed a plug-patch mushroom type thing was ok. Or is it supposed to be a flat patch instead?

 

Another option if you have a second vehicle is to remove the wheel and take it to a tire shop (so you don't drive the screw deeper by driving on it). They can remove the screw and check for a leak. If no leak, no plug or patch needed. Give them at least $10 as a thank you if this is the case.

 

That's fine. Those are more fancy and perform a double purpose. Most tire shops don't have those because they're more expensive and they prefer plugs because it's faster and less cumbersome for them. A plug is a very temporary fix and not suitable for modern radial tires. A patch will pretty much fix the tire permanently and won't fail if it's done correctly.

 

Bias Ply tires are very old school and I wouldn't know where to get them. Radial is the way to go. They're stronger and last longer.

 

Or buy some beer for them. LOL

 

At the tire shop:

"What's wrong with Billy? He's been walking funny lately, losing his balance and such."
"I dunno. He's been pulling screws out of tires all day. Won't let nobody else do it."

 

It's all about having fun while trying to do some work. LOL

 

Generally, Les Schwab or (I think) General Tire will do it for very little, if not free.

 

Although that may be true, any shop that performs any kind of work for free will find something wrong that needs to be fixed right away or the vehicle will eventually explode. LOL

 

I've had several tires fixed at Les Schwab for free (even tires I bought elsewhere) and they never found anything "wrong that needs to be fixed right away or the vehicle will eventually explode. "

 

My $.02 -

1) Buy a repair kit and patch it yourself so you can learn
2) Go buy new tires because Duellers suck

 

If you bought your tires at Discount Tire, they fix tires for free. Unless it's the sidewall, which will require a new tire.

 

You can't patch a tire unless you have a tire changer machine because you have to patch it from the inside. And then, you should rebalance it and you need a tire balance machine too.

 

Sorry...plug kit and plug it yourself.

 

I plugged the tire myself and took it to Costco to have them fill it up. It has been two days now and it's holding air. What you said about it being a helpful skill to have kept going through my mind so thank you for that.

 

Sometimes it only takes a little nudge and you find what you think is hard is not really hard at all. You might even consider picking up a small air compressor to keep in the truck so you have it available if you have another problem in the future.

$77 VIAIR 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable On/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V Heavy Duty Pump 120 PSI, Alligator Clip, Twist Chuck

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-...locphy=9008543&hvtargid=pla-316724739814&th=1

I have one of these in both my Tacoma and the 4runner.

You're welcome

 

You don’t even have to have bought the tires there if it’s a new vehicle. One of my first stops when I got my 4Runner, and later my wife’s new car, was at Discount to buy the certificates. The ones for my 4Runner were $160. Covers regular rotation and balance, repair and road hazard. And I can go to any Discount for help if I’m traveling. Worth it to me.