Sidewall Damage

…a blowout. Bubbles or bulges in the sidewall are normally the result of the tire's inner liner being damaged from an impact that creates a small hole or tear and compromises the strength of the sidewall plies. In most cases, the impact that caused the damage was not severe enough to be noticed…

…procedure. Interestingly enough, when sun exposure or excessive cleaning is the cause of the small cracks, the sidewall of the tire facing outward will show damage, while the sidewall facing inward is rarely affected. The anti-aging chemicals used in the rubber compounds are more effective when…

…tire sidewall against curbs when parking. While unsightly, cosmetic sidewall scuffing doesn't reduce the strength of the tire. Some drivers will have their tires remounted inside out to hide the cosmetically damaged white sidewall under the vehicle. Drivers who repeatedly damage white sidewall tires…

…on the road have never been considered a tire's friend, many of today's tires resist accidental damage by featuring thicker rubber molded at key locations on their sidewalls. This helps reduce damage to the tires and/or wheels when drivers accidentally rub them against curbs while parking or turning…

…but tires with shorter sidewalls (low profile) are more easily damaged. Can they be repaired? No, unfortunately sidewall bubbles cannot be repaired. Because the area flexes while driving a patch will not stay in place. The bubble also indicates there is structural damage to the tire that cannot…

…sidewall is likely to work the repair loose. Driving on the flat tire is the biggest item under the driver's control. Driving even a short distance on a tire that has lost pressure can leave it unfit for future service, even if the actual puncture is perfectly repairable. Damage to the sidewall…

…nails and screws. Even though damage may be small, the steel belts now exposed to outside elements can be compromised if not addressed promptly. Repairing larger punctures and punctures to the tire's shoulder and sidewall area are not recommended. Evaluating the damage the object caused to the…

…rubber loses its bond to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement. Tire blowouts are usually the result of overloading the vehicle, impact damage (either immediate or delayed depending on severity of the impact), a massive cut that causes rapid air loss, or an unnoticed small puncture that…

…sidewalls, but external inspection is not enough. Any repairs without removing the damaged tire from the wheel are improper because inspecting the inside of the tire for hidden damage greatly reduces the risk of returning a weakened tire to service. Without dismounting the tire, any hidden damage…

…be damaged. If the sidewall separation/bubble appears after six months of on-vehicle service, prolonged driving on overloaded/underinflated tires or a road hazard are the most likely causes. However it may take weeks or months after an impact for a separation/bubble to appear as the damaged or…

…tire size and wheel combination can be substituted with a more cost-effective tire and wheel set that'll also afford added sidewall height to minimize pothole damage. With more and more vehicles coming standard with 19" and 20" wheels and tires, "minus sizing" has become very…

…* How can I tell if my tires are directional and properly mounted/rotated? Directional tires will have a rotation arrow branded on the tire's sidewall. The arrow indicates the direction in which the tire should turn. Unless they are dismounted and remounted on their wheels to accommodate use on…

A break, bulge or bubble in the sidewall of your tire is typically the result of an impact that damaged the tire casing's fabric reinforcing plies. This means only thin layers of rubber remains to contain air inside the tire. Replacing the tire as soon as possible is the best path forward. If…

…across more of the tread area and therefore spread out the tire wear. Check for Sidewall Roll-Over If you see any scuffing or wear past the edge of the tread pattern, your tires are rolling over too far. The sidewall rubber compound is different than the tread rubber and is not designed to be driven…