Sidewall Bubble in Tire: Causes and Safety Concerns
Ever wondered what causes those bulging protrusions that sometimes appear on your tire’s sidewall? Well, those bulges, which usually appear after an impact when driving, are called sidewall bubbles. Any signs of sidewall bubbles should be treated as a serious safety concern that must be addressed immediately.
Car tires should always be smooth and round for maximum driving comfort and safety. Signs of tire bubbles are an indication that internal tire fabrics have been weakened and can no longer protect the tire from bursting when pressure builds up following contact with the road surface.
The formation of bubbles is reduced by driving carefully and performing proper maintenance on tires.
What Causes Tire Bubbles?
Tire bubbles appear when a tire hits a surface, meets with a bump, pothole or debris on the road surface at high speed. The force from the impact damages the inner liner of the tire, and in the process, causes an air leak into the tire’s body to expose as a bubble on the sidewall. Tire bubbles can also be formed due to internal defects that arise due to anomalies in the manufacturing process.
Underinflation and overloading of tires result in overheating and internal stress, which weakens the tire structure. Such tires are likely to develop bubbles, even on the slightest impact. Sidewall bubbles differ from tread bubbles, which are usually formed when tire belts break.
Is It Safe to Drive on a Tire With a Bubble?
Any signs of sidewall bubbles should be considered a major safety concern that requires immediate attention. A tire bubble is likely to explode at any time. This is an event that could trigger a life-threatening blowout, which not only affects you but places the lives of other road users at risk.
Steerability of the vehicle reduces as the tire bubble enlarges, slowly compounding into loss of control. Driving on a bulged tire exposes the vehicle to wheel runouts, overheating and reduced traction on the road surfaces.
Bubbles constitute premature wear of suspensions, ball bearings and suspension systems.
Can You Fix a Bubble in a Tire?
The presence of a tire bulge or bubble on the sidewall is an indication that the tire’s structural integrity has been compromised. As a result, damages caused by the bubble on the tire are irreparable and can only be addressed by replacing the tire.
If driving without a spare wheel, it is recommended that you drive at low speeds, or request for breakdown services, heading straight to a repair shop for tire replacement.
What to Do If You Have a Bubble In Your Tread
Bubbles on the tread are usually small and hard to notice. The presence of such treads is an indication that the tire has some broken belts. These bubbles enlarge as you continue driving on different road surfaces.
Once you notice bubbles in your tire tread, it is important that you replace the tire. However, these can be fixed by installing an internally reinforced patch. The patches may not fully prevent the bubble from expanding but will slightly increase the service life of the tire.
Tread bubbles can also be fixed by using capron threads to sew the affected tire area. The sewn tire area is then vulcanized using reinforced rubber to further improve the structural integrity of the tire.
Repairing bubbles in tire treads does not restore the original performance of tires and is thus advisable that the tires be replaced within a short time.
FAQ
How long can I drive with a bubble in my tire?
Replace a tire once a bulge on the sidewall is noticed. You can continue driving, albeit at a slower speed, avoiding any risky maneuvers and abrupt braking that may lead to tire bursts. It is recommended that the vehicle is unloaded and the tire pressure reduced by about 10%.
Is a small bubble in a tire dangerous?
Yes, the smallest bubble on a tire’s sidewall can be as dangerous as any large-sized bubble. Care should be exercised when driving in a vehicle with minute bubbles as hitting a pothole or abruptly braking is likely to increase the size of the bubble and lead to a bubble burst.
