I have a Nissan Micra, year 2002. The tyres on the car are Dunlop Sport 300E. I was checking the tyre pressures today and I noticed a nail in one of the reartyres. It was stuck in between the treads, so it looked as though it wasembedded quite deep in the tyre. But no air was escaping.I took the tyre to Kwik-fit who looked at the tyre and said it would cost £15.99for a repair including new valve and wheel balance. I agreed to have the repairdone because I was worried that the nail might cause a blowout. When Imentioned this to the repair man, he said that would not happen unless the nailwas in the tyre wall. He disappeared in to the workshop with my tyre and Icouldn't see what he was doing, but I heard some burring noises and I saw himfetching some pliers at one stage. Now there is a rubber seal in the hole wherethe nail was. I just wonder if this repair was necessary. If my tyre is a radial, then doesthis mean that there is some metal in the tyre to stop nails penetratingthrough? If so, then could I have just left that nail embedded there?

gillian ( gurgled happily, sounding much like theywere saying : Yes.Yes and No. There are steel wire belts reinforcing the tyre, but they're not armour plating.Radial just means the tyre's construction is made of layers that run radially (around the tyre) rather than across the tyre (cross-ply). There's not really been cross-ply tyres in general car use since the early 70s at latest.No. It may very well have started to leak air, or got thrown out causing a more rapid deflation. Even if it didn't, it may very well have started to leak water into the steel belts that would rust them through and cause delamination of the tyre's layers. Nasty. At best, it'll ride terribly. At worst, it would blow out.

what is a radial tyre?

Apr 26, 2004 21 Replies

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Guy King 22 years ago

The message from "Fred"

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LiviLion 22 years ago

Well,

I once took a tyre to Kwik-Fit for a puncture repair.

Once it was all done I asked the manager how much it would be (think I was told 8 or so pounds on the phone) and he said not to worry about it.

Result, so well done Kwik Fit Livingston.

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