There are certain places that always seem to have some kind of construction going on, inevitably resulting in random nails, screws, and debris ending up on the road and potentially in your tires.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
This woman\u2019s car got punctured on the road and she was shocked to see what the culprit was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She Found What In Her Tire?<\/p>\n
In a trending video with more than 156,000 views, content creator Peter Petrella (@peterpetrella) documented the cause of his fianc\u00e9e’s flat tire.<\/p>\n
Petrella explains that it started with a text. His fianc\u00e9e had gone to get her passport made, came out a couple hours later, and found a flat tire waiting for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I say to her, you know, it is what it is, Florida has a lot of construction,” he says in the TikTok. “Just call roadside assistance, they’ll come, we’ll throw the spare on, and then we’ll go either patch it if it’s in a good place or we’ll get a new tire. Whatever, it’s inconvenient, but it’s Florida roads, right?”<\/p>\n
She waited about an hour for roadside assistance. The hole in the tire was on the bottom, so nobody could see what caused it until the tire came off.<\/p>\n
“The roadside assistance guy comes, pops the tire off. He says, ‘I have never seen anything like this before,\u2019\u201d Petrella recounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know what’s in her tire? An entire wrench,\u201d he reveals.<\/p>\n
When Petrella got there, he looked at the tire loaded in the trunk of her car. At first it looked completely fine, with no visible damage. Then he saw it\u2014several inches of wrench sticking straight out. The wrench head had punctured the tire and buried itself inside, and when he tried to pull it out, it wouldn\u2019t budge. The circular head of the wrench was keeping it locked in.<\/p>\n
“Oh my god, you’re joking, you’re kidding. How did, oh my god,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
“Less than 1k miles on it too,\u201d he adds in the caption.<\/p>\n
How Dangerous Is Road Debris For Tires?<\/p>\n
A wrench is an extreme case, but road debris is responsible for a significant amount of tire damage every year.<\/p>\n
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a>, 511 people died in tire-related crashes in 2024 alone. The agency notes that screws, nails, and other sharp objects are among the most common causes of sudden tire punctures and blowouts while driving, and that even debris that doesn’t puncture a tire outright can cause uneven wear that leads to failure later.<\/p>\n According to J&L Tire & Service Center<\/a>, potholes are another major hazard, since hitting one can puncture a tire or bend and crack the steering column. Broken glass can damage a tire and cause failure sometimes miles after the initial contact. Fallen trees and branches, especially after storms, round out the list of other hazards.<\/p>\n J&L also makes the point that attempting to swerve around road debris is often more dangerous than just hitting it. Drivers typically have only a few seconds to process and react, which isn’t enough time to safely assess the hazard level of an object. Slowing down and driving straight over debris is usually the safer call.<\/p>\n How To Avoid A Flat Tire<\/p>\n The good news is that most flat tires are preventable. According to Synchrony<\/a>, here’s what actually makes a difference:<\/p>\n Check tire pressure monthly. Underinflated tires flex too much as they roll, building up heat that weakens the structure over time. Overinflated tires are more likely to get punctured by debris.\u00a0 \u201cThe Tread On The Tire Is Still Good\u201d<\/p>\n People in the comments were just as surprised, though some had their own stories to tell.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the tread on the tire is still good that\u2019s the worst,\u201d a top comment read.<\/p>\n \u201cI bought a used car at Carmax and they put new tires on it for me and about a week later I got a flat and when we looked there was a screwdriver coming out from the inside. When they put the new tires on someone accidentally left a screwdriver in the tire. Idk how it happened but it did. I was so stunned,\u201d a person said.<\/p>\n \u201cI work at a shop and never in my life have I seen anything like this,\u201d another wrote.<\/p>\n Motor1 reached out to Petrella for comment via email and Instagram direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \n \t\tWe want your opinion!\n\t<\/p>\n What would you like to see on Motor1.com?<\/p>\n
\nDo a visual check before every drive. Run your hand along the tread and sidewalls and look for uneven wear, bulges, cracks, or anything embedded in the rubber. Catching a nail early is a lot cheaper than a blowout on the highway.
\nUse the penny test for tread depth. Stick a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too worn and the tire is way more vulnerable to punctures.
\nRotate tires<\/a> every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Front and rear tires wear at different rates. Regular rotation evens that out and prevents weak spots from developing on one set.
\nSlow down in construction zones and on rough roads. If you can’t avoid a pothole, drive straight over it rather than swerving, and reduce your speed first.
\nReplace any tire showing visible damage. Cuts, bulges, or tread worn to 2\/32 of an inch are all grounds for replacement. A tire sealant can patch small punctures temporarily, but it’s not a permanent fix and it won’t help with anything on the sidewall or a hole larger than 6mm.<\/p>\n