Is It Safe to Drive on a Tire with a Bubble?
Bubbles in your tires are generally caused by impacts on the road and are therefore commonly referred to as impact breaks. Hitting the edges of potholes, small collisions, hitting a curb or speed bumps can all cause the sidewall to bulge in your tires. Your tires should always be smooth and round, so if you notice a bubble on the sidewall or see a section of tread bulging, it’s a sign that something is very wrong.
What Should I Do?
If you notice a bubble (or impact break), you should stop driving immediately. Tires that have an impact break are not safe to drive. When your tire has a bubble, the fabric of the inner tire is broken and can no longer protect your tire from bursting when pressure develops from contact with the road.
The most common place for an impact break to occur is on the sidewall of your tire. Tire bubbles can also form in areas where the rubber has worn very thin. Driving on a tire that has an impact break is very dangerous and there is a high possibility that it will fail while you are driving. Your top priority should be getting the tire replaced as soon as possible because as more moisture and air seep in, the larger the break will get.
How Do I Prevent Tire Bubbles?
There are some ways to prevent tire bubbles from occurring. It may be difficult to avoid coming in contact with potholes and speed bumps, but there are some precautions you can take to avoid impact breaks from forming. Prevention is always better than cure, so to make sure your tires have a long lifespan and keep you safe, follow these steps:
- Avoid Potholes – Potholes are the biggest culprit behind impact breaks. Always try to steer safely away from hitting potholes.
- Drive Carefully – Drive carefully without rushing over speed bumps. Be cautious when parking and when driving around curbs and sidewalks.
- Maintenance – Inspect your tires often and look for changes in structure and pressure. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure regularly.
Can I Repair the Bubbles?
Damage as a result of tire bubbles/ impact breaks cannot be repaired because a tire bubble means the tire’s structural integrity has been compromised. It’s just no longer safe to drive on because the tire’s internal structure has failed. The tire will have to be replaced, and driving should be suspended. As a precautionary measure, regularly inspect your tires and make sure they have enough pressure. Visit Postle’s Tire Barn and have your tire replaced as soon as you notice a tire bubble.
Learn More
Postle’s Tire Barn specializes in all tire and wheel related issues as well as brake system diagnosis and repair and suspension and alignment problems. For more information, give us a call at 205-391-0062 or email us at [email protected].
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