How do I find the hole in my tire?

[HipChick]

Ok..I saw a nail in my tire, now I can't find the nail anymore, how do I find the hole?

[liberal N proud]

1. Fill a tub large enough to get the tire into with water

Fill the tire with air and submerge the tire in the tub.

Bubbles will tell you were the hole is.

[ashling]

14. Unless you get in the tub with the tire,

in which case they could be ... that is to say, your tire could be flatuated.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

2. If it's leaking air, you can try

spraying the tire down with water. The leak will become pretty apparent at that point (unless it's the part of the tire resting on the ground).

[ChromeFoundry]

3. Get a spray bottle with a bit of dish washing soap

Fill up the tire (full to spec, ~32 psi for a car) with air.
Spray the tread until you see the location that creates bubbles.

If it is off the vehicle. Use a tub of water and watch for bubbles as you turn it under water.

[elleng]

4. With great difficulty.

Take it to car/tire place, and let them find it. Had similar problem last week, but didn't SEE a nail, saw a FLAT! Put spare on, took tire to car place, and with difficulty they found 'little' puncture in sidewall. New tire, now.

[taterguy]

6. Agree, some things are best left to professionals

[HipChick]

7. Agree...I am female, haven't a clue where the spare is..let alone taking off the tire

Took it to gas station garage,found and plugged the hole...cost $17

[noamnety]

8. You should learn how to do that.

Contrary to popular belief, lug nuts aren't loosened with the penis.

[sharp_stick]

9. LOL that made my afternoon n/t

[rug]

11. Of course not, they'd always be falling off.

[HipChick]

12. I can put gas in the car, and add washer fluid and that's about it..

[pinboy3niner]

16. But it can be done that way...

...if you have a tapir handy.

[Major Nikon]

10. I've repaired these lots of times myself

It's not rocket surgery. You can get the repair kit at the auto store which does the exact same repair you'd get done professionally and it takes all of 5 minutes to do it. If the hole is in the sidewall, you need to have the tire replaced.

That being said there are many tire shops that will perform this repair free of charge. The reason is because if the tire is not repairable, they get to sell you a new tire so it's a good tradeoff for them.

[Kali]

5. is it flat? or holding pressure?

if it is holding don't worry about it

if if is flat you can pump it up and listen/feel for air escaping, alternatively you can spray it with soapy water and look for bubbles

if it is holding and you are nervous be sure to pick up a can of flat-fix - heck you might deflate it put a can of that in, drive as per instructions and then fill it back up.

[Generic Brad]

13. Poke two or three new holes

If you sense air whistling out of one of them, you have found your leak.