Before delving into sidewall bulges of tyres, let’s start by discussing what a tyre bulge is. Tyre bulges or bubbles are protruding bulges on the sidewalls of a tyre. In most cases, they appear like “bubbles” on the rubber surface and could be just one bulge at times or several of them appearing next to one another. Damage to a tyre’s internal components is the primary cause of these tyre bubbles or bulges. The damage causes the air pressure to build up, thereby causing the rubber to bulge. Let us get into further details.
What are the likely causes of the tyre sidewall bulges?
The air bubble in the sidewall of a tyre is actually the air that has leaked from the inner liner and reached the outermost surface of the tyre. The inner liner, body plies, belts, sidewall, and bead are just a few of the numerous parts that make up a tyre. The function of the inner liner is to keep the air in the tyre between the wheel and the tyre. This inner liner and other sections of the tyre casing are pretty susceptible to punctures from impact damage, which can create spaces between the sidewall’s layers and let air escape. The principal cause that triggers the formation of these bulges is impact damage. This occurs when a tyre contacts specific barriers and sustains internal damage, such as:
- Driving on uneven roads with too many undulations
- Ignoring the potholes while driving
- Passing over debris on the road that may well include sharp or too-hard objects
- Constantly slamming into obstacles while parking the vehicle
Some drivers find that their tyre has a bulge on the sidewall after meeting with a mishap, indicating that the accident has caused internal damage to the tyre.
The structural strength of the sidewall may deteriorate and collapse as a result of encountering a pothole or curb. It might harm the internal components of the tyre. Once that happens, the air within the tyre will leak out through the sidewall’s fracture and press up against the rubber, causing the rubber to expand or protrude. This is the formation of a bulge in the tyre wall.
The likelihood of a tyre bulge developing is significantly higher if the tyres on your car are underinflated. Insufficient air pressure in the tyre causes the rubber to become less stiff and lose its ability to maintain the form of the tyre. It is, therefore, more prone to flex upon contact, weakening the internal structure.
Sidewall bulging can at times, but not generally, be caused by a manufacturing defect in the tyres. If that be the case, the tyre’s warranty will cover the bulge.
How Can These Tyre Sidewall Bulges Be Preventable?
There are a few steps you can take to take care of your tyres and lower the chance of these sidewall bulges, even though it’s practically almost impossible to avoid potholes when they’re going your way or see a collision approaching.
Taking care of the tyres
Tyre tread bulging can be avoided by regular rotations, thorough inspections, and tread depth checks. It is a result of excessively worn tyres, incorrect PSI levels, or other defects. Some of the smartest ways of keeping the chance of getting caught on the wrong foot at bay are:
- Keeping a spare tyre handy, more so if it is a long drive
- Having a tyre gauge handy
- Sticking to the TPMS or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System guidelines religiously
- Be extra cautious while driving and parking, especially in case there is too much undulation on the road surface.
- Avoiding potholes altogether while driving
Can The Bulge on the Tyre Sidewall Be Ignored?
NOT AT ALL, to say the least! The so-called “bubbles”, or the bulges that develop on the sidewall of the tyre(s) of your vehicle, have the same potential to burst as the literal air or bubbles. You run the risk of substantial wheel and suspension damage apart from the potential tyre blowout if you continue driving a tyre having a sidewall bulge. And if that happens at high speed, you have a chance of facing a major mishap that may very well turn fatal if your luck is not with you!
So the experts are of the opinion that you must immediately get rid of the tyre that has a sidewall bulge. Because of its weakness, the tyre is unable to withstand more challenging driving circumstances, such as potholes, rocks, debris and the like.
What About A Bulge On the Tyre Tread?
In a similar vein, the tread of the tyre itself may swell as well! This suggests that the belt of the tyre —the steel layers that come with a rubber coating that sits between the tread and the body plies has ruptured. This phenomenon is termed tyre separation. Driving over a bulge or bubble in the tread will result in vibrations. This is equally as dangerous as a sidewall bulge, and a tyre blowout might happen soon. (Well, we are discussing sidewall bulge, and this was a slight deviation from the topic. Here is additional information for you to take note of!)
Wrapping Up – Most Feasible Solution To Tyre Sidewall Bulges
Replacement of the affected tyre – to put it simply! It is practically impossible to fix a bulge on the sidewall of a tyre. You need to replace the tyre. That’s because the internal nature of the injury simply hinders any chance of repairs whatsoever. A patch or plug can amend this internal structural tyre damage. If the cords inside the body of the tyre give in, there is simply no other way out than replacing the tyre altogether.
Your best bet in such a situation is to visit your nearest car repair shop to have the tyre replaced. You must not delay the replacement because it could fail at any time and without any prior notice. Replacing tyres in pairs or sets of four is the smartest idea to prevent noticeably uneven wear on your tyres.