What causes bulges in your tyres?
Alright, let’s talk about those pesky tyre bulges. Seen one of those bubbles sticking out on your tyre? Not ideal, aye. What’s happening is the inside structure of the tyre (the sidewall) gets a knock or weakens, and then the air inside pushes out. That’s when you get a bulge, or a lump, and it’s a sure sign your tyre’s had it. Sooner or later, you’ll be needing a replacement.
How do tyres get like this? Around Hamilton, it’s usually when you smash into a kerb turning out of Te Rapa Road, or maybe hit a pothole down around Frankton on a wet Monday. Even just bashing over those speed bumps in Hillcrest a bit too quick can do a number. Debris or rubbish in the road—think about the stuff you find on State Highway 3 heading out towards Ohaupo or Cambridge—can smash the sidewall, too.
Another big one is running low tyre pressure. You’d be surprised how many hybrids or the odd Volvo XC60 come in from Tamahere with this problem. If you’re not checking your pressures regularly, especially in our Hamilton stop-start traffic or with all the temperature swings—one day it’s 30 degrees out in Rototuna, next week we’ve got fog so thick you can’t see—the tyres really start to cop it.
Is it safe driving on a tyre with a bulge?
Short answer—nope. When you see that bulge, the inside of the tyre’s already in bad nick. One of our techs swapped out a Mitsubishi Outlander for a young mum last week—the whole inside was about to blow. If that tyre pops when you’re heading down Forest Lake Road or the expressway, you’re risking a big accident. Best move? Get it replaced as soon as. Don’t muck around. Save yourself the dramas (and a failed WOF Hamilton check, too).
Worried you’ve got a bulge? Here’s some extra reading: What to do if you have a bulge in your tyre
How do you avoid tyre bulges?
The biggest thing is just a bit of regular TLC. Rotate your tyres—helps keep the wear even, especially if you’re running a Nissan Serena or Mazda Demio doing school runs from Dinsdale to Chartwell. Check the treads and the sidewalls, don’t ignore the cracks. Always keep them pumped up to the right PSI. Try and dodge potholes and slow down for bumps, even when you’re late getting through those lights at Victoria Street.
- Do a tyre rotation when needed
- Check tread depth and condition every now and then
- Keep tyres inflated nice and steady
- Park with care so you’re not smacking the kerb every time
- Avoid potholes if you can see them coming (yep, we know, sometimes easier said than done around Nawton or Morrinsville)
Other things to watch for with tyre bulges
Sometimes the bulge is obvious. Other times it’s sneaky—one of our techs reckoned a customer’s Peugeot 308 only showed up as heaps of vibration when cruising down Wairere Drive. So, if you feel your steering wheel shuddering or notice cracks along the tyre side, get it checked before you wind up stranded.
- Odd vibrations when driving, especially above 60 k’s
- Cracks or weird marks on the sidewall
Tyre Bulge and Tyre Replacement in Hamilton
Spotted a bulge or worried your tyre’s about to let go? Flick into Grimmer Motors. Our team will sort you out, whether you’re in Hamilton central, out in Taupiri, or nipping in from Cambridge. We do tyre replacement quick smart, so you’re not left hanging. Plus, we can help with tyre rotation and alignment, keep your wheels sweet and your rides smoother, no matter what you’re driving (even those oddball Euro imports everyone seems to be buying these days).
If you need help with tyre bulge or just want a tyre replacement sorted in Hamilton, give us a bell at Grimmer Motors.