Is it bad to have a dent in your tire?
Indentations are harmless and are not detrimental either to safety or to driving characteristics. They are only a visual condition. Indentations in the tyre are caused in the same way as if you were to tie a string around an inflated balloon or a soft fruit and then gently tighten the string.
What are the indents in tires called?
sidewall undulations
What are the sidewall indentations on my tire? The condition, sometimes referred to as sidewall undulations, is a common characteristic of radial tire construction and are purely a visual characteristic and will not affect the performance of the tire.
Is it safe to drive on a tire with sidewall damage?
It is never safe to drive on a tire with sidewall damage and that is because as you drive, the puncture, hole, or injury to the sidewall of the tire becomes bigger and worse, thereby putting yourself and other road users at risk due to possible sudden tire blowouts.
Can you drive with a gash in your tire?
If you experience sidewall tire damage, we recommend that you DON’T drive with your car or even REPAIR the tire. A good rule of thumb to remember is this: when the sidewall is damaged- no matter how small- it’s time to replace the tire.
What causes ripples in tires?
Sidewall undulation occurs naturally on radial tires because of the way they are constructed. That’s because larger tires have taller sidewalls, which means longer undulation ripples, more inflation pressure to push the rubber against the ply, and probably more weight on the tires, which also increases the pressure.
What does a bubble on my tire mean?
Bubbles in your tires are generally caused by impacts on the road. Hitting the edges of potholes, small collisions, hitting a curb and speed bumps can all cause the sidewall to bulge in your tires. Tires that have a bubble are not safe to drive.
Why do my tires have dents in them?
A common byproduct of radial tire construction, sidewall indentations/undulations are more noticeable in tires with taller sidewalls or operate at higher inflation pressures. Fortunately sidewall indentations are a cosmetic condition that does not affect the performance of the tires.
How long can you drive with sidewall damage?
A damaged sidewall is weakened and could give way at any moment. If you know you have a tire with a damaged sidewall, then you should not drive on that tire at all. Remove the tire from your vehicle and replace it with the spare until you can get a new tire put in its place.
How do I know if my sidewall is damaged?
Look out for any tears, cuts, nicks, bubbles or bulges in the sidewall. If you spot any of these it’s typically a sign of serious damage to the tyre’s structure, and that’s dangerous.
How can you tell if a tire is damaged?
If you can see the top of Abe’s head, the tread is too worn. Bulges or blisters. If you see a bulge or blister on the sidewall, replace the tire at once. These signal potential weak spots that could lead to tire failure.
What does the sidewall of a tire tell you?
225 identifies the tire section width, which is the measurement of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters. For example, this aspect ratio of 50 means that the tire’s section height is 50% of the tire’s section width. R indicates the construction used within the tires casing. R stands for radial construction.
What are the indentations on a radial tire?
It is not uncommon to find creases, ripples, valleys or waves of indentations on the sidewall of your radial tires. On smaller tires, they can sometimes be very delicate and easy to miss. On larger tires, they might stand out and be quite obvious, even from a distance.
What are the dimples in a Continental Tire?
The dimples are superficial. Indentations in the tire are best illustrated if you were to imagine tying a string around an inflated balloon and then gently pulling the string tighter. If the balloon is the tire, the string is the embedded carcass cords which are concealed by the rubber.
What causes a tire to deform on a straight road?
Long journeys at a steady speed on straight roads; The alignment and camber of the suspension geometry. While the tire is rolling along the road, the freestanding blocks deform as they approach the contact patch of the tire, and they’re compressed as they touch the tarmac.
What causes the tread center of a tire to wear?
During energetic acceleration, in stop-start urban traffic, or when accelerating away from traffic lights, these high torque levels can quickly increase wear of the tread center. Even today’s mid-range vehicles have modern engines which can generate high levels of torque and are capable of producing high degrees of slip.