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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is being done deliberately…

17 replies

Whatkatyforgottodo · 09/11/2023 12:18

I got a new car in 2019. It’s the most expensive car I’ve owned in my life but nothing compared to some of the other cars where I live. In the last four years I have had a flat tyre about six times, and each time I found a nail stuck in my tyre. At first I assumed it was bad luck but AIBU to think that someone is doing this deliberately? Prior to owning this car I had flats but don’t think they were ever caused by nails. And if it is deliberate, how do I find out who is doing it and stop them?! Any advice would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
MsChatterbox · 09/11/2023 12:18

Cctv?

takemeoutonight · 09/11/2023 12:21

Sounds unlikely. With the state of the roads everywhere sometimes we are unlucky and end up with nails as you describe. It depends really on where in the tyre you're finding the nail?
If it's on the tread then you've probably driven over it. If it's in the sidewall then that's more likely deliberate however if someone wanted to sabotage somebody's tyre they would use something more easy to puncture with than a nail as that would be hard to do.

Spaghettieis · 09/11/2023 12:23

Could there be magpies nesting near somewhere you drive a lot? We get loads of random nails around here and it’s because magpies drop them.

Flickersy · 09/11/2023 12:24

Is there any motivation for someone to do this? Do you park on the pavement or own an unsuitable car? If your neighbours have similar cars, do they have the same issue? Do you have a vengeful ex?

Or do you live close to a building site / dump which might mean there are more nails than usual about?

Only you can tell from circumstantial evidence whether it's likely someone is deliberately targeting you.

But if you think they are, the obvious answer is to get CCTV or a motion-activated dashcam.

xILikeJamx · 09/11/2023 12:26

As above - do you regularly drive through industrial areas or past stone/timber merchants/building sites etc?

Possibly been a truck tipped it's load at some point and left nails lying on the road and you keep driving over them

Resilience · 09/11/2023 12:29

What kind of area do you live in? That makes a difference. The more driving you do on roads frequently used by say skip lorries, plant machinery, flatbed trucks, anything that might carry nails as a cargo or caught up in the treads of their own vehicles- the more likely you are to get them. Also, are you driving past a construction site or a police station? Again, sources of nails on the ground.

6x in 4 years isn't actually that often tbh, and certainly not often enough to suggest deliberate targeting.

I feel for you though. It's annoying and expensive to sort out.

Worldgonecrazy · 09/11/2023 12:30

Our local Facebook page often has warnings about nails at a particular junction. Someone local frequent spreads nails on the road in the area. It’s all narrow country lanes so there is no cctv available.

seeyounexttuesluv · 09/11/2023 12:47

Sometimes the alloys can get warped slightly if you bash a curb or two by accident, meaning that the tyres don't fit as well and cause slight/slow tyre leaks. A good garage can fill the gaps with special stuff to stop the leaks. Have no idea what it's called but sorted it for ours.

seeyounexttuesluv · 09/11/2023 12:48

Forgot to say that a nail would have to be put in with quite some force to puncture a tyre I think. Have a look round where you regularly park to see if there's nails on the floor. Might have been dropped by a workman.

Element4056 · 09/11/2023 12:53

I wouldn't say 6 times in 4 years is that often to be honest. I had 4 in 1 year and found this a bit excessive. I worked it out it was probably from all the renovation works my neighbour was having done and builders coming in and out.

OhpoorMe · 09/11/2023 13:01

I wouldn't say 6 times in 4 years is that often to be honest.

Acutely, I would say that's loads. I've had one flat tyre in 5 years!

Candufloss · 09/11/2023 13:03

This reply has been deleted

This user is a previously banned troll so we've removed their threads and posts.

SerendipityJane · 09/11/2023 13:05

seeyounexttuesluv · 09/11/2023 12:48

Forgot to say that a nail would have to be put in with quite some force to puncture a tyre I think. Have a look round where you regularly park to see if there's nails on the floor. Might have been dropped by a workman.

There are ways and means ...

Trevorton · 09/11/2023 13:07

Where abouts do you live? I moved to Dorset last year and got 3 punctures in about 3mths during the autumn/winter months. I had not had one for years and years (30 years of motoring). It turned out it was blackthorns and general debris from hedge trimming. Are they actually nails that are causing this?

LookItsMeAgain · 09/11/2023 13:21

Get yourself a dashcam and one that films out your back window too. If you set it to operate by motion detection when you're parked up, and if someone is actually setting nails around where you drive, then it will pick it up.
You should be able to go to the police with the information (so long as you have something for them).

Spinet · 09/11/2023 13:35

Is it a bigger car? People were always leaving nails in the road when I drove a Touran, but now I drive a Corsa they clear up after themselves much better! 😃

seeyounexttuesluv · 09/11/2023 14:00

SerendipityJane · 09/11/2023 13:05

There are ways and means ...

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obviously 😜 but i think it's usually not that

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