How dangerous is this tyre bulge …

[Submariner1]

During its A Service they found this bulge on the inside Front.
As this is the only wheel with slight kerb scratch (not related to this issue) I was going to have it refurbished again.
Q. Is it safe to drive 35 miles to the wheel company?
25 miles on the 50 mph limited “smart M4” and then 10 miles around the north circular.
Or should I take it off and use the spare ( a real pain).

Do these bulges suddenly go bang - all air lost in a nano second or do they just decide to lose a lot of air fairly fast, i.e. manageable to pull over without the tyre detaching and destroying the allow wheel etc.? ( obviously driving very cautiously).

Weird, pretty sure I did not hit any huge potholes, to my knowledge, never drive up kerbs etc. Either its a pothole and the CL 500 build quality hid it from me. Or do these high spec tyres just breakdown cos its about 5 years old?

No sign of impact damage, the overall length is total 90mm including the gentle slope of the bulge. The majority of the severe bulge is cica 45-50mm long.

Had it not had a service, I admit I would not have looked at it, as it does not leak, and I don’t grovel down looking at the inside of tyres … maybe I should

Shame because its still got most of its tread. New 6.5mm now at 5mm.

 

[Rotorhead500]

I'd be changing it ASAP; for those distances, I'd probably drive the car but very carefully.

Those bulges tend to let go, not leak.

 

[NJS5]

I wouldn't drive any meaningful distance on a tyre like that, save to creep a few hundred yards to a safe place to resolve the issue.

Don't you have RAC or similar membership - they will fit the spare for you in my experience.

If you do decide to drive consider whether you will be committing an offence, and whether you will be insured.

NJSS

 

[Gazwould]

Can't see any problem .

 

[Rotorhead500]

Can't see any problem .


View attachment 73681

Nothing a course of antibiotics won't heal...

 

[Gazwould]

No , just needs the Covid booster .

 

[Uncle Benz]

I had a chap come in the other day, said he thought a driveshaft had gone. Found a rugby ball on the tyre. He went weak at the knees - “I was doing 90 on the motorway on that yesterday”

 

[JBell]

Get it changed, looking at the wear you will need a pair of tyres.

Are there no tyre places closer than 35 miles????

Looking at the pic the rubber does not look in great condition but at 5 years old it will have started to degrade

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

In this type of situation I’d remove the wheel at home and take the wheel to the tyre shop if you have another car, if not fit the spare.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I had a chap come in the other day, said he thought a driveshaft had gone. Found a rugby ball on the tyre. He went weak at the knees - “I was doing 90 on the motorway on that yesterday”

Great advertising for KUMHO - not

 

[Wighty]

No , just needs the Covid booster .

He had just had it

 

[LostKiwi]

In this type of situation I’d remove the wheel at home and take to the wheel to the tyre shop if you have another car, if not fit the spare.

This if it were me.

 

[JBell]

This if it were me.

Or get a mobile fitter round

 

[Blobcat]

Great advertising for KUMHO - not

I think it's more an advert for not straddling speed cushions...

 

[Gazwould]

Great advertising for KUMHO - not

Terrible , my dad had fun with them too .



He wasn't alone .

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Enough to give you sleepless nights seeing that lurking on the inside of the wheel - I’ve never tried them and don’t intend to

 

[LostKiwi]

I've used Kumho and never had any issues.
The only bad point I found is they tended to wear quickly.

 

[Botus]

If you change it then it won't let your down or damage the rim,
if you do nothing you might end up in the cold with dirty hands at the side of the road

It would be interesting once off the rim to see if you can see something on the inside, if its baggy then it might be some odd outer cosmetic thing, but its its rock hard the tyre carcass is damaged somehow - better safe than sorry as they say

 

[00slk]

It's fine, get your monies worth until it bursts.......

 

[Rockron]

Not that I'd advocate driving any faster than walking pace for the least practical distance on a tyre with sidewall bulging.
But are sidewall bulges actually as dangerous as they may appear ie is size everything ?!
Sidewall strength is dependent on the plies be they rayon nylon etc. an air leak in the plies separates them from the rubber and forms a bulge. A small leak given enough time might develope a huge unnoticed bulge, whereas an instantly noticed small bulge may be concealing a large leak and be the more dangerous.