What Causes Bulges in New Car Tires?

[Alexandra]

Reasons for bulges in new car tires: 1. Impact on the tire: For example, suddenly hitting a curb, quickly driving over a speed bump, or running over a large pothole can cause the tire to be violently compressed, increasing the internal air pressure and causing the weaker sidewall to bulge outward. 2. Tire quality issues: If the bulge is due to tire quality problems, you can file a claim with the tire 4S store or manufacturer. 3. Poor road conditions: Driving at high speeds over rocky roads, especially hard and rough surfaces, or protruding manhole covers can significantly impact the tires. Encountering inconspicuous but highly damaging road irregularities while driving can also cause bulges.

[DelNova]

I just bought this car less than half a year ago and the tires already have bulges. I was so angry that I drove straight to the 4S store for a check-up. The mechanic said the most common cause is driving habits—not slowing down over speed bumps, forcing the car onto curbs, or hitting hard objects with the tire sidewalls, which can break the inner cord layers and cause bulges. Another pitfall is tire pressure. New cars often come with high factory tire pressure, and over time, hitting big potholes can lead to bulges. The mechanic suggested that the first thing new car owners should do is adjust the tire pressure and install a dash cam to review footage. If you’re always driving over curbs, it’s time to change your driving habits.

[StAshley]

Last week, I helped my cousin deal with a tire bulge issue on his new car and realized many people overlook tire batch numbers. If tires from the same batch experienced compression or impact during transportation, the internal cords might be damaged even if the surface appears fine, inevitably leading to bulges within months. Additionally, if the PDI inspection at the dealership is careless, they might miss aging cracks on the tire sidewalls. With the current hot weather, high temperatures accelerate rubber aging, increasing the risk of bulges. My advice is to bring a flashlight when picking up the car, crouch down, and carefully inspect the tire sidewalls for any damage, especially near the wheel rim.

[DelAiden]

After so many years in auto detailing, tire bulges are far from uncommon. Aside from obvious causes like hitting curbs, installation issues are often overlooked. If the wheel rim edges aren't smoothed properly or there's insufficient lubrication during tire mounting, uneven force distribution can cause bulging. I once had a customer whose tire developed a bulge from a car wash's high-pressure water jet forcefully hitting the sidewall. New tires have softer sidewalls - avoid aggressive driving on gravel roads within the first three months. If you spot a bulge, replace the tire immediately without hesitation, especially if it's on a front tire. Continuing to drive with a bulged front tire will cause uneven wear and terrifying alignment issues.