TLProspect

I noticed this morning a bubble in my front driver side tire. Is there anything to do about this other than get a new tire, and if not, I am going to order the tire online, so is it safe to drive on until the tire comes in later in the week?

dohc89

You need to go ahead and get another tire. That is from the casing, and or tread separating. It could explode under hard cornering, or heavy loads.

Ron A

Take it to any local tire shop and let them look at it and tell you whether it is safe or needs to be replaced. It's kind of hard to analyze in the Forum without seeing it and also being qualified.

Some bubbles are harmless and others are not. Get it checked. They won't charge you for it, I'm sure, and you will feel better with an expert opinion.

te3point5

THat bubble is now a VERY weak point in the sidewall. a pothole you normally go over fine could cause the tire to blow. No fix other than a new tire.

sbuswell

It depends on how large the bubble is. If it's round then you need a new tire immediately. If it's oval shaped and small then you are okay for 5-10k miles. If its big at all, you need a new tire. It could be the tread seperating from the casing or something has damaged the steel belting and its bent too much and causing the sidewall to push out at its weakest point and could be a great candidate to blow out if you hit a good pothole or corner too fast. Get a new tire, on-line is great way to get best price also.

PenguinQX

iTrader: (1)

It's NOT supposed to be safe to drive on.

HOWEVER, I drove with 2 good sized bubbles in my front driverside wheel for about 2000 miles without any consequences. This included a lot of hard driving (hard accelerations+cornering).

I suggest you drive on it cautiously until you can get it replaced.

bkzjimmy

i have a bubble too from a retarded pothole.....brooklyn sux!!!!

Danoli

I agree I had a pot hole in my front right tire got it replaced and a week later got another buble in the same spot. I've been driving on that one since april and its huge. just monitor the tire pressure too if its too inflated its more likily to pop

dohc89

I don't believe anybody thinks it's ok to continue to drive on. First of all the tire was not designed with a bubble. This is something that happens when your tread separates. This creates a spot in the wall of the tire that is thinner than another spot, and opens the possibility of tire failure. Just because it drives ok does not make it ok. If you hit a pothole hard enough with this condition, it WILL burst, or if your hit this particular spot, it will burst. Be smart, replace the tire.

TLProspect

Actually I am going to replace the tire. Having it shipped, comes in on Friday. Do you think I can make it ok until then? I was gonna put on the spare just to be safe but it says not to drive over 50mph on it, and I have to make a highway commute in the morning.

dohc89

It'll be ok for a short period of time. Hopefully it is on the side of the tire, and there's no vibration.

joetroy

If it's a Michelin tire you might want to have the tire dealer contact them. I think I recall reading on another site that they were replacing some tires with sidewall bubbles as a "goodwill" gesture at no charge to the customer.