Here, we present to you the causes for the appearance of bubbles in tires, ways to fix the problem, and the consequences of driving a vehicle with bubbled tires.
Did You Know?
Low-profile tires bubble more due to road hazards.
A bubble in the tire can make your car shaky and cause the steering wheel to vibrate, while driving. Tires bubble more in countries where the temperature is below 30 degrees Celsius. Low temperatures reduce the necessary pressure in tires. This is one of the reasons for bubble formation in tires. To identify bubbles in a tire, check for uneven bumps or bulges in its sidewall. A small bulge in the sidewall of the tire is the initial stage of bubbling. The bubble may expand over time, making it easily noticeable.
What Causes Bubbles in Tires
● When multiple polyester cords like plies are fastened with beds of rubber and steel wires, with the help of an adhesive, a tire gets its shape. When these layers are detached from the sidewall of the tire, the tire starts bubbling. The detachment of these layers can be due to many factors. One of them is poor manufacturing. When the layers of the tire are not hardened properly, they start to fall out. Also, when the adhesive used to fix the ply layers, steel wires, and rubber beds, is befouled, bubbles may form.
● Poorly inflated tires are at a high risk of bubbling. Excess heat is developed in the tires when they aren’t inflated accurately. As a result, the intermediate bonding adhesive collapses, giving way to bubbles.
● Another major cause of the bubbling of tires can be overburden. The heavy burden on the vehicle can cause the tires to elongate. This can extensively damage the plies and the steel wires within them. They then tend to fall out of alignment and the sidewall of the tire shows bubbles.
● When the plies of the tire are damaged after aggressively hitting on potholes, speed bumps, or any debris on the road, the layers of the tire start to separate.
● Bubbling of tires is a common problem in countries like Finland, Estonia, Russia, and Canada. Due to the drop in temperature, the pressure in the tire reduces. When such a tire is left unattended, it starts to bubble.
● When the rubber cover of a tire wears out, it becomes prone to impact fracture. That is, the metal skeleton inside it, has high chances of dislocating. This dislocation can result in bubbling. Therefore, change the tire if you notice that it is wearing out.
How to Fix Bubbles in a Tire
● Bubbling of a tire occurs due to collection of air in its outer layers. Such a tire is not repairable.
● Replacing the tire is the only solution to the damage caused. Also, choose a reputed technician to replace and fix the tire. That’s because a bad assembly of tires can again lead to bubbles.
● See if the tire is in the warranty period. If yes, get it replaced by its manufacturers. A defective manufacturing process makes the tires bubble within 6 to 8 months of their manufacture.
Driving with a bubble in one or all tires can be dangerous. Such tires cannot handle road hazards like debris and potholes. It can lead to a tire burst. So, it is important to inspect the vehicle tires carefully before going for a drive.