Why does a Tire Sidewall Bubble?
 

Hi,
I've got the A-Spec wheels/ToyoProxes 4 with under 7K miles and noticed that my front left has developed a bubble on the sidewall.

a) Why does this happen to a tire? (Too many potholes etc?)
b) Can it be repaired?
c) Is it safe to keep driving on?
d) Could my tire burst?
e) Will it get worse with time and do I need to take action immediately?

Thanks! :whyme:

Hit potholes??

it happened to me twice. damn pothole one time and a rock in the road the other time. driving at night its hard to see these things.

a) Why does this happen to a tire? (Too many potholes etc?)
potholes

b) Can it be repaired?
i dont know...probably not

c) Is it safe to keep driving on?
friend of mine said its not...but im not sure

d) Could my tire burst?
probably - again - as my friend said when he had his he had to replace his from fear it would burst

e) Will it get worse with time and do I need to take action immediately?
idk

sorry not much help.

You should replace the tire ASAP. The bubble you see is actually internal damage to the nylon sidewall threads. It's boulging out since the pot hole you hit has not tore through that portion of the tire and the air pressure inside the tire is pressing on the other rubber sidewall. It's a recipe for a complete and unexpected tire blowout. Don't chance it. The sidewall on your tire is so thin that hitting even a modest pothole may damage it. I got one on the right front tire of my 97 Camry after I drove through a crater that was almost enough do serious suspension damage. I replaced it right away. You don't want to have th tire explode as you round a turn at freeway speeds. Kissing the guardrail will cost much more than the cost of a Toyo Proxes 4 tire. Good idea to get road hazard insurance if you didn't get it before.

dsc888

Good thing the Toyos are relatively cheaper to replace! I would get it changed ASAP. I've always heard that a bubble is not safe to drive on.

road hazzard covers potholes? i was told it didnt .

Back when I purchased my tires at NTB for my Camry, I was informed by the sales manager that the road hazard policy would cover everthing and anything that would cause the tire short of vandalism. You get a prorated % towards the purchase of a new tire if you get a bubble. This is appealing for those of us who drives a lot fo city miles. It's really a craps shoot. My first policy more than paid for itself after I got 3 punctures. The second policy helped NTB's bottom line as I never got a flat.

dsc888

No, I was just saying that the Toyos are relatively cheap as compared to replacing one EL42 (like I almost did when I had a screw too near the sidwall to patch). One of the reasons I got them.

side wall bubbles are caused when your tire gets pinched by both the wheel and the surface. Michelins are very notorious with this problems. it is basically weak side walls. this is why i like Dunlops, Yokohamas, Pirellis, and my Falken 512's....