What to do if a small piece of the tire sidewall is missing?
2 Answers
Tire sidewall missing a small piece should be replaced promptly. The sidewall is the weakest part of a tire. Once a piece of rubber is scraped off, it may have already damaged the cord layer inside the sidewall, posing risks of air leakage or tire blowout. Car tires are basically radial tires, mainly composed of cord layers, steel mesh, and rubber. The cord layers consist of transverse and longitudinal cords, whose main function is to bear loads, while the rubber's primary role is sealing and flexible deformation. The weakest part is the sidewall. If a tire is forcibly repaired, the alternating deformation and recovery during rotation will cause the rubber patch on the sidewall to fall off, leading to cord breakage and bulging. A missing piece of rubber on a car tire can affect tire pressure, potentially causing increased pressure in summer, which poses safety hazards during high-speed driving.
I encountered a similar situation in the car enthusiasts' group the other day. A chunk of rubber had fallen off the tire sidewall, which is essentially poking a hole in safety. The sidewall is the weakest part of a tire, with steel cord layers embedded inside. Even minor damage can easily lead to a blowout. I've seen too many videos of high-speed blowout accidents, and they send chills down my spine. My advice is to slow down and pull over immediately when you notice a missing chunk—never take chances and keep driving. Peel back the damaged area to check if any white cords are exposed. Even half a centimeter of damage warrants switching to the spare tire. Remember, when replacing tires, always change them in pairs on the same axle to avoid uneven grip. Regularly clearing out stones stuck in the tread can also prevent problems down the road.
