How long does it take for a tire to bulge after hitting a curb?
2 Answers
Tire bulging after hitting a curb can occur immediately if the tire hits the curb at high speed; if the speed is slower or the impact is minor, the cord fabric may not break, and bulging won't happen right away. Below is relevant information about tire bulging: 1. Types of bulging: Tire bulging can be classified into cord fabric breakage bulging and delamination bulging. Delamination bulging mainly includes three types: tread separation, shoulder separation, and bead separation. Tread separation primarily manifests as delamination on the tire tread surface (known as the crown). 2. Causes of bulging: The main reason is excessive tire pressure during use, which reduces the tire's contact area, leading to premature wear. Additionally, rapid acceleration or poor heat dissipation during tire use can cause the tread temperature to rise.
I occasionally scrape the curb while driving, and that time it was quite severe. The next day, the tire developed a bulge, which really scared me. A tire bulge occurs because the inner layers of the tire wall (the cord layers) are damaged or broken, especially when subjected to strong scraping that directly harms the internal structure. However, minor scrapes might not show immediate issues, and a bulge could appear a few days later after high-speed driving. How soon a bulge appears depends on several factors: the severity of the scrape, whether the tire is aged, and whether the tire pressure is sufficient. New tires are more resilient, while old tires or those with low pressure are more prone to damage. It's advisable to stop and inspect the tire wall immediately after a scrape, checking for any bulges or cracks. Addressing it right away is the safest approach, as driving with a bulging tire is risky—a blowout could be disastrous. To avoid such accidents, it's best to leave some distance when parking, and developing this habit can save both money and hassle.
