Proper tires are a sign of safe and sound driving, but things like tire bulges constrain that. Tire bulges or bubbles look like if you use a thickening photo filter on some part of your tire. You can also call it a pimple on your tire.
It may sound and look funny; hope that it will never appear on your tires, especially if they are new. Bulges usually appear on a single tire; there is no impact of weather or conditions that cause tire bubbles.
We will talk about tire bulges in this article, the causes of bulges, what to do to avoid the chances of bulges, and if you can get rid of these bubbles from the tread and sidewalls.
So, without further ado, let’s start with the causes of tire bulges.
Table of Contents
Causes Of Bulges and Preventions
Manufacturing Defects
Unlike other problems with tires, tire bulges most commonly occur due to the improper inspection of tires. Usually, out of thousands of tires, there is one defective tire, so if it is in your luck, you will most probably get a refund or exchange with a new tire.
If the tire is defective, you might see effects after some time, including improper ride and unstable handling. That is why it is important to drive multiple hours with new tires to check if everything is running properly. The bulge will appear after some time, so as you get it, contact the retailer or manufacturer of the tire.
Shock from potholes
Potholes, bumps, and road debris can also create bulges on your tire tread or sidewalls. It is common sense that you should not drive with pace on deep potholes, however, most of the time, the driver can not catch the bumps and get into it.
When the shock hits the tire, especially when you are at a higher speed, the inner construction of the tire could get damaged. The air pressure lies between the rim and the tire, and when the belt or other internal construction of the tire gets damaged, air slowly passes to the internal compartment of the tire, which consists of ply layers, cords, and belts; once air store inside the tire, it creates bulges on certain part of the tire, usually sidewalls.
Underinflated tires
Air pressure levels are always important because of the trouble they can create if they are not properly inflated. Similarly, in this case, if the tires are underinflated, a simple shock or bump could damage the internal parts of the tires, resulting in bulges on tire sidewalls or tread.
Make sure to check tire air pressures, especially if you are planning to hit the imbalance roads or drive with heavy loads. If the air pressure is properly inflated, you can avoid many damages that would otherwise appear on tires.
Heavy loads
Even if the air pressure of your tires is structured, you can still get tire bulges if you are carrying more than the recommended load on tires. A tire weight limit is always written on tire sidewalls; if it is erased, you can search on the internet with the tire name to see the load index and range of any tire.
When you drive with heavy loads, a tire contacts the ground unevenly, which rarely creates bulges on a tire, but it will usually make your tires wear off unevenly. So, in any case, you will lose the money and reduce the life of a tire.
Oversteer or understeer
Speed driving on a curvy corner creates an over-and-under steer, usually depending on the mechanics of your car. When your car gets out of control, the tire drags through the asphalt and damages the internal and external parts of the tire.
Especially if you are driving performance tires, you will see the impact of high-speed cornering in the form of tire bulges. So, even if you are on a track, avoid going above the speed that your car or tire can not handle; it is also dangerous for your life.
bulges and Fixes
If there is a bubble or bulge on your tires, rather than putting effort into fixing that thing, just replace that tire. It is dangerous to drive for a short period on tires with bulges. As of 2024, there is no fix yet found on how to fix tire bulges DIY.
By deflating and inflating or by pushing bulges with a hammer, you probably get a temporary fix; after some time, it will reappear, and chances are it will appear on several other parts of the tires. So don’t waste your effort or put your life in danger with pitty fixes, just replace your tires as early as possible.
Bulges on stocked pile tires
This is the most hurtful situation if you have stored tires and waiting for the right moment to drive on these, and when the moment comes, it brings a bulge on the tire with it. It also happens when you dont properly store your tires, even if you do, sometimes, bulges appear as well.
As there is no fix for bulge tires, and the tire might get older than 6 years, which is normally the period of tire built warranty, so there would be no possible return you can get from these tires. You should do the same as you would do with your driving tires with bubbles.
How To utilized bulged tires
Unlike older proper tires, tires with bubbles can not be utilized as spare tires because it will be dangerous to drive even a mile with these tires. So instead of that, you can utilize these tires for other purposes than driving, like making a vase, or using it as gym equipment.
You can send it to recyclable places to get something out of these tires if they are older than 6 years. You can get a good value if you sell it on scrap, especially if the rubber is in good condition.
FAQs
Are tire bulges covered under warranty?
Any type of defect from manufacturing is totally covered by a tire warranty. For further clarification, you can contact a tire shop or brand of a tire. In case you get bulge through damage after driving for years, you will only get a rebate on the remaining tread depth, not a total refund or exchange.
how long will a tire bulge last
It is unlikely that your tire get fixed on its own if you leave them in the garage for months. It might get reduced due to the low air pressure on tires, however, as you inflate tires on the levels, it will reappear.
Is a bulging tire illegal?
Yes, driving on tires with bulges is not only unsafe but can also be illegal in many places. It compromises the tire’s integrity, increases the risk of a blowout, and may lead to legal consequences. If you notice a bulge on your tire, replace it promptly for safety and compliance with road regulations.
How long can you drive with the bulge?
Realistically, you won’t get a sudden burst of tire on driving with bulge tires, but nobody would recommend driving on tires with bulges for even a mile at a speed of 10mph. There are cases in which bulge create damage to the driver more than 10 times the cost of the tire.
Which Tires get bulges most?
There is not any specific category of tires that are proven to get more bulges. However, summer and high-performance tires are more likely to get bulges due ot their softer and lighter compound. The softer internal construction improves the tire speed and handling, which is a need of high-performance sports cars.
Conclusion
Tire bulges are a serious concern for safe driving, and they can result from various factors such as manufacturing defects, shocks from potholes, underinflated tires, heavy loads, and aggressive driving. Recognizing the causes of bulges and taking preventive measures, such as proper tire maintenance and avoiding overloading, is crucial.
Fixing tire bulges is not a practical solution, and attempting temporary fixes is not recommended. The safest course of action is to replace the affected tire promptly.
