I live in NOVA and I think I've had a tire puncture 5 times in 5 years. Two of them were within 3 months of each other. It especially sucks with low profile performance tires because it is less safe to patch them, so I end up dropping $350 on a new tire every time. As someone else said, it's usually roofing nails. I have begun patrolling the streets in my neighborhood for roofing nails when I go on walks. But I definitely picked a couple of them up around "renovating" neighborhoods in DC going out to eat.

My number is in line with you. It stinks.

This happened to my husband three times in the past six months. Two of the three times it was the exact same type of nail (confirmed by DH before he took it to the shop, so it's not like when the people at the shop come out and show you some random nail). I don't know what's going on - maybe just LOTS of construction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the inputs! I live near Ballston in Arlington so I'm thinking that's a factor. My local place does great with a cheap/quick plug, but yesterday I had the issue later in the day and ended up going to Mr Tire. They were friendly and it wasn't that expensive, but it ended up taking 2 hours all told!

That’s my neighborhood too and I think it’s just bad luck. Do you have low profile tires? I tend to pick up more nails and screws when the tire starts to wear down as well. Go to D&V service on Wilson and it’s about $20 to fix.

OP here, yeah that could be a factor. My tires are a mixed bag right now b/c they've all been replaced at different times. D&V is my go-to place! Lately they haven't been fully staffed late in the afternoon which is how I ended up at the other place.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the inputs! I live near Ballston in Arlington so I'm thinking that's a factor. My local place does great with a cheap/quick plug, but yesterday I had the issue later in the day and ended up going to Mr Tire. They were friendly and it wasn't that expensive, but it ended up taking 2 hours all told!

That’s my neighborhood too and I think it’s just bad luck. Do you have low profile tires? I tend to pick up more nails and screws when the tire starts to wear down as well. Go to D&V service on Wilson and it’s about $20 to fix.

OP here, thanks for the inputs! I live near Ballston in Arlington so I'm thinking that's a factor. My local place does great with a cheap/quick plug, but yesterday I had the issue later in the day and ended up going to Mr Tire. They were friendly and it wasn't that expensive, but it ended up taking 2 hours all told!

About twice a year -- construction trucks bouncing down the road toss screws and nails all over the place.

Fortunately, my local tire place will plug a puncture in 10 minutes for 10 bucks.

To me that's a lot! Even when I used to drive a lot more to get to work, I rarely got a tire puncture.

I get them all the time in an industrial area however my colleagues don’t. I’ve had two recently. Your number seems right in line with my luck.

I've had one in the last six years.

There have been two times when I got a bunch of punctures: in Ashburn VA in the 1990s when there was a ton of construction going on and in the industrial section of Laurel MD where I for work. I'm pretty handy with the tire plug kit and keep a portable tire pump in my trunk.

On the other hand, I had a decade with 100k miles of driving and no punctures or flats in between.

I’ve never had a tire puncture. Your count seems like a lot.

Always try to stay within your lane and don't try to drive over yellow/white lines to the shoulder. Any nails within drive lanes will get picked up by other drivers.

Roofer nails seem to be the issue around us. All the roof replacements in the last couple of years have not helped.

It seems like I am constantly seeing my TPMS alarm go off, and it turns out I have a nail or screw in my tire. It's probably happened 5-6 times in the past ~2 years. Just curious if this is average, or if I'm an outlier. I do live in an area with frequent construction projects so maybe that's why? I don't suppose there's anything I can do to prevent it, but if there is I'd love to know!!