got regular maintenance done on car today @ local mazda dealer and they said i had a nail in my left rear tire.

they said it had "sealed itself in the tire" and that it's not an emergency but should be replaced ASAP.

can i drive highway speeds? should i be worried?

looking to get new wheels and tires now ...
thanks!

 

You should be OK. It's probably been in there awhile. If it's a screw, it's fine. But a nail could pop out easier because it's smooth. If you're getting new rims and tires soon, I'd just keep it in the back of my mind, and some fix-a-flat the back of my Protege!
Maybe some nut-warmers, too! I don't even want to GUESS how cold it is on the side of the road at night in Vancouver right now! Yikes!

 

Just fix it so you don't worry about it at all. It's not a major job. You can do it yourself or you can take the tire to a gas station or a shop and they'll fix it in 2 minutes for around 5-10$.