Should Small Gravel In Tire Tread Be Removed?

[Pablo]

I have my wife do it. Slender fingers.

Our "road" (private) is crushed gravel and other mixed pebbles. Not worth the daily hassle.

 

[z71bill]

I have a small needle nose plier that I use just to remove rocks.

My old Michelin Defender tires I just replaced didn't have enough tread on them to hold many rocks - the new Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse HT are picking up a lot more stones.

When I hear a click click click as I drive it bugs me.

I inspect my tires regularly - have found a well worn nail head more than once while removing rocks.

 

[Sj08]

I haven't bothered picking rocks out, but what do you guys do if you want the tires balanced?
Our recent tire purchase, Goodyear WR2, includes rotation and balance for the life of the tire, and the WR2's like to hold small rocks.
I can't imagine the tire guy is going to pick the rocks out.
Is it better to just get the tires rotated and not balanced unless it has a vibration?

 

[tmorris1]

Seek help. What do you think people that drive dirt roads do? Jack their car up and pick rock out of their tires all night?

 

[Number_35]

Are you joking?

Regarding offroading, yes.

 

[Kira]

have found a well worn nail head more than once while removing rocks.

Always grateful when I find one "in time".

 

[KGMtech]

I'll give you a free get-out-of-jail card. Tell the officer that your favorite automotive forum advised, specifically KGMtech, to speed up to 95 MPH for the necessary centrifugal force required for imbedded stone ejection. It's all about science.

 

[walterjay]

I don't get rocks in my tires. Don't ask me why

 

[Carmudgeon]

There's a tool for the task, so it's obviously not a consensus.

 

[Pablo]

There's a tool for the task, so it's obviously not a consensus.

Enabler. Ordered! hahahahahaha

 

[Wolfshead]

I may remove a pebble or two from the tread but i look for Screw/Nail heads as a Priority.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I concur. When you hear that awful tick-tick-tick when driving....You want to get to the bottom of it. At least I do. Is it a rock ? Is it a screw ? Is it a bolt ? Is it a nail ? I have a few pebbles in the treads, but they don't make any noise.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Anal retention has no bounds.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Sorry Snagglefoot. I don't like getting flat tires if I can avoid it. Have to wait for AAA. Bad back. Rather take to a shop and have it patched before it goes flat. Back in the day, when I was young, I would just pop on the spare. Those days are long gone now. Don't get old my friend.

 

[Number_35]

Anal retention has no bounds.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

[Pablo]

Anal retention has no bounds.

Inversely proportional to exlax intake?

 

[z71bill]

Always grateful when I find one "in time".

I have found both.

I have pulled a nail out and then put it back in to stop the tire from going flat.

 

[02SE]

A sharp rock can puncture a tire, it's often called stone drilling. I've had it happen many times over the years. When I've been on a 4wd trail, and I am in the process of airing the tires back up to paved road pressures, I'll dig out as many as I can, usually using an old key. I don't want them taking chunks out of my paint when they come out at speed on the highway, or damaging other vehicles, or puncturing the tire.

 

[Pablo]

I’m kinda bummed. I only find sheet metal screws. Never anything good

 

[Number_35]

A sharp rock can puncture a tire, it's often called stone drilling. I've had it happen many times over the years. When I've been on a 4wd trail, and I am in the process of airing the tires back up to paved road pressures, I'll dig out as many as I can, usually using an old key. I don't want them taking chunks out of my paint when they come out at speed on the highway, or damaging other vehicles, or puncturing the tire.

Agreed - my concern was that because these are shards of crushed limestone (rather than smooth pebbles), they might have the potential to puncture the tire.

On the other hard, limestone crushes very easily, so who knows?