Roofing nails causing increase in flat tires and tire replacements

by: Raché Ahdey

Posted: Sep 27, 2018 / 05:22 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 27, 2018 / 05:22 PM CDT

With so many roofs still being repaired and all the recent rain, tire replacements and repair needs are rapidly increasing.

"Since the last huge storm, we have seen an increase in road hazard as well as roofing nails caught in tires. We have seen, I would say, well over 33 percent of the vehicles that have came in have has some sort of nail or low on air or general concern and tread-wear for their tires," Steven Medina, general manager for RNR Tires, said.

But, it's not only an inconvenience to drivers, it's also a possible out-of-pocket expense for these repairs.

"I’ve seen a lot of tire damage and have had to change a lot of tires. I’m about to replace the tires on my vehicle. It would come out of my pocket," said Rodney Taylor, a local truck mechanic of more than 35 years.

But, the expense is somewhat shared, with local mechanics having to come out of their pockets to cover the overtime costs for employees.

"Keep in mind, we actually don't make anything off of a tire repair–the roofing nails–so we take that cost directly but we’re willing to shoulder it and provide that service for our customers," Medina said.

On average, each employee will see two to three hours of overtime per week, Medina said.

"So it has cost us a little bit in overtime hours, but really it's the opportunity to address their tire needs as well as any kind of wear and tear that they’re also doing or maybe some preventative maintenance that they might not have been aware of," he said.

But, there are some ways to avoid these tire damages.

Medina said if you are constantly going through the puddles, you may tend to get nails on the side wall that prevent the tire from being repaired.

"So the tips that I would recommend is staying out of the pot holes," he said. "There's plenty out there in Lubbock, but you’d also want to stay away from the edges of the road, because all of that water does travel over to the side, and if you’re driving in those puddles, you’re gonna catch them."