Hey guys,
I bought a new set of BFG P245/60r14 tires for the rear of my chevelle last April. Now, after less than two months, the passenger side tire has a big old bulge in the sidewall right where the tire meets the rim... I havn't been exactly easy on these tires,(burnouts, power slides, etc...) but the tire dealer said it's a road hazard issue and that I should have bought tire coverage. My thought is that a road hazard issue would be nails and stuff like that puncturing the tire anywhere around the treads, not something on the sidewall. Am I wrong and what would you guys do? Chris

Hitting a big pothole can do that and it's considered a road hazard.

I bought a set of tires once and one of them developed a bubble in the sidewall. I did have the road hazzard coverage, but when they took it off they found it was a defective tire, there was a thin spot in the rubber somehow causing it to bulge.

I guess it kinda depends on how the bulge got there, if its a defective tire it should be replaced free, if you hit something or rubbed it, I'd guess you'll have to eat the cost of a new one.

Well, I guess I'll go back and have them look at the tire again, maybe I'll get lucky and they'll find that it's a defect. You would think they'll do something for me after only two months... I swear I didn't hit any potholes or anything, though I have been pretty hard on the tires. Thanks for the info, Chris

Too much air pressure causes that also, by too much, I mean as little as 5 lbs over max., continues at that pressure.

Always get the road hazard coverage if it is offered. It is such cheap insurance. Sorry to say it, but if they offered the coverage and you turned it down, they are unlikely to help you out w/ the price of a new one.

Impact bubbles are covered under most companies' road hazard warranties. The only things not covered are mechanical wear, such as accelerated wear due to a bad alignment, worn shocks/struts, etc.

Definately get a new tire on there though. That bubble will get bigger and bigger as you drive on it, until it pops.


- Matt

I can't count how many Goodyear's I've had over the year that developed a buldge and they'd tell me it was normal and not to worry.... This is the first I'm hearing of BF's doing it....

I can't count how many Goodyear's I've had over the year that developed a buldge and they'd tell me it was normal and not to worry.... This is the first I'm hearing of BF's doing it....

Did it look something like this?

http://www.toyo.com.au/img/rimcrush2.jpg

That is definately not normal, and not good. That is a sign that the cords in the sidewall have been damaged and can no longer safely contain the inner pressure.

Yeah, the bulge looks just like the picture except that it's located right at the
wheel rim with part of the bead pulled away from the rim by the bulge. I don't know how it's holding air and I'm definately not driving on it... I've got another tire on order so the chevelle is down until then. Chris

I got my tire replaced yesterday and they said it WAS a defect in the tire after examining the inside. They replaced it at 100 percent their cost and I bought the road hazard coverage for both tires, a lesson well learned... I guess I got lucky, thanks for the help everyone gave me.
Chris