Can New Tires Bulge?
3 Answers
New tires can bulge. When the cords in the tire's sidewall break, the internal air escapes through the broken cords, barely held back by the thin rubber layer, which is the cause of tire bulging. Tire bulging poses a significant safety hazard. Once a bulge is detected, the spare tire should be immediately installed, and the vehicle should be driven to a repair shop for tire replacement. Reasons for bulging: If a vehicle's tire bulges, especially when driving continuously under high temperatures, it is highly prone to a blowout, severely compromising driving safety. Apart from installation and manufacturing defects, most tire bulges occur due to accidental impacts with obstacles during use, causing localized breaks in the sidewall cords. Measures to prevent tire bulging: When installing tires, visit a professional tire shop and use specialized tire installation equipment and procedures; try to avoid prolonged driving on poor road conditions. If unavoidable, keep the speed as slow as possible.
New tires can indeed develop bulges, and I've experienced this issue firsthand. Just last week, I had new tires installed, and after only 200 kilometers, I noticed a small bulge on the sidewall. At first, I thought it was a quality issue, but the mechanic at the repair shop explained that tires undergo strict quality checks before leaving the factory, and the probability of bulges due to manufacturing defects is very low. Most cases are caused by improper use, such as hitting potholes at high speed or scraping against curbs while parking. These impacts can cause the internal tire cords to break, leading to bulges. Additionally, incorrect tire pressure—either too high or too low—can increase the risk of bulges. It's recommended to drive gently for the first 500 kilometers on new tires, slow down to under 20 km/h when going over speed bumps, and check tire pressure monthly. If a new tire does develop a bulge, don't even think about repairing it—replace it immediately for safety, as tires are the only part of the car that makes contact with the road.
Tire bulging is not uncommon; I've seen too many cases where people come back for repairs right after changing tires. The key is to understand that bulging mainly occurs on the sidewalls of the tire because that's the thinnest part. There are four common causes: first, driving too fast over speed bumps or potholes, causing excessive instant deformation of the tire; second, habitually rubbing the tire against the curb when parking, leading to internal damage from repeated scraping; third, driving with excessively high tire pressure for a long time, making the tire too tight and prone to damage; fourth, buying old stock tires that have been stored for too long, as the rubber may have already aged. To avoid this, be mindful not to drive too aggressively in daily situations, slow down in advance when seeing obstacles, and develop good habits to extend tire life. If you notice bulging, even if it's only been a week since installation, replace the tire immediately. Continuing to drive with a bulging tire risks a blowout, which is especially dangerous at high speeds.
