Tire Bubble!!!

[nate22]

what the FREAKING HECK caused the bubble in my tire wall???!

I'm rollin 17" enkei's on 40 series R17 Kumho's.....


didn't hit anything, i try and avoid as many potholes, let alone bumps in the road....inadequate tire pressure??

any ideas?

heard the horror stories, didn't think i'd have to worry only 3 months into these friggin' tires.............

[wingless]

The problem, as described, is a manufacturing defect. Contact the tire distributor and they will replace the tire.

[WillyWonka]

From my buds at AudiWorld...

Re: Bubble sidewall tire questions
User account number (aid): 29395
Posted by Black'01S4 on 2001-12-16 17:05:14
In Reply to: Bubble sidewall tire questions posted by Frank B on 2001-12-16 16:50:09

MY dad had a '97 Porsche Turbo with PZeroes on it and the front passenger sidewall bubbled. We took it to the porsche dealer, they said it was a factory defect in the tire, and they replaced it under warantee. the bubble ended up looking like someone was pushing a golf ball out the sidewall from the inside of the tire. The car had the factory recomended tire pressure's in it.

[WillyWonka]

From Volvo's Brickboard (bad experience)...

17" Pirelli's form a sidewall bubble (850R)[ALL/1998] posted by Frank Badini on
Tuesday, 5 August 1997, at 4:26 p.m.

My 850R came equiped with 245/45-17 Pirelli P-Zeros, and after about 5,000 miles, the two front tires formed bubbles on the sidewall. According to two tire dealers, the problem is the result of "road damage" from hitting a pot hole. The low sidewall of the ultra-low profile 17" tires makes them suseptable to this type of damage.

According to the tire dealers I went to, this problem is very frequent. One guy said he sees one 850R/week with the same problem. Neither Volvo, nor Pirelli will admit that these tires are unsuitable for the car, and will not warrantee the tires. They say that driving in areas with potholes (I live in Connecticut) cause this to occur. I could understand if this was an isolated incident, but it seems like it is quite common. Either Pirelli P-Zeros are poorly designed, or Volvo should not have equipped the 850 with these particular tires.

The bottom line is that it cost me $220 to replace each tire, and they were only used for 6,000 miles.

[nate22]

thanks will...you always hook a brudda up w/ info....

just got ahold of WHEELMAX.COM(ugh, by the way)......no warranty,etc HOWEVER, they want about $80, not too bad....

I have yet to hear back from kumho themselves..so cross your fingers everybody!

[Griffin]

The bubble is the result of whats knows ad sidewall seperation. a Portion of your sidewall has de-bonded from the inned section and pressure from inside is getting behind it causing the bubble. It is absolutely a manufacturing defect and should be covered by your tire manufacturer.

[nate22]

can i get a more professional(PC terms) description so I can quote it to the manufacturer? I've got an auto place guy that will say anything I want him to.....he's one of those uneducated guys that has his own shop, knows EVERYTHING, but not how to form complete sentences.....

[LimpMasterJ]

You don't need anything technical to say. The tire was defective, contact Kumho, they will cover it. Warranties go through the manufacturer of the tires, wheelmax.com can't do anything about it. Probably the easiest solution is to find a Dobbs, AutoTire, etc. that carries Kumhos, and they will swap them for you after they contact Kumho. And no, you don't have to buy the tires there for them to do this for you. I feel your pain, I hate my Potenzas, on #7 in only 1 year.

[Griffin]

Originally posted by nate22
can i get a more professional(PC terms) description so I can quote it to the manufacturer? I've got an auto place guy that will say anything I want him to.....he's one of those uneducated guys that has his own shop, knows EVERYTHING, but not how to form complete sentences.....

Just tell them you have bubbling in your sidewalls. The technical term is plie seperation. BTW - it CAN be caused by impact but there should be evidence if that was the case (sidewall scuffing).

[nate22]

thanks guys....i contacted wheelmax.com, don't know what i was expecting.....blah, blah....called kumho.....guy said he's never seen defect w/ these tires, just pothole induced bubbles....basically, hehe, get this, said to get any shop to check it out, diagnose the tire, then call him.........man, imagine that...anywho, to say the least, got my boy to hook it up...."dude, I'll tell them WHATEVER you want"........but seriously, there's not a mark on the rim or the tire............

[Griffin]

Originally posted by nate22
thanks guys....i contacted wheelmax.com, don't know what i was expecting.....blah, blah....called kumho.....guy said he's never seen defect w/ these tires, just pothole induced bubbles....basically, hehe, get this, said to get any shop to check it out, diagnose the tire, then call him.........man, imagine that...anywho, to say the least, got my boy to hook it up...."dude, I'll tell them WHATEVER you want"........but seriously, there's not a mark on the rim or the tire............

Have him tell them:

Plie seperation - bubble in sidewall - no signs of impact or physical trauma on rim or tire

That should get it done.

[Camry2000]

Good luck trying to get it covered under warranty. I have already replaced two tires do to a bubble in the sidewall. Damn Chicago potholes!

[nate22]

my guy told kumho that the belt twisted...haha...how funny...threw the rep for a loop(never heard of that happening w/ these tires)..almost lost the deal,

needless to say, this is where i stand...the kumho rep is convinced defect..doesn't want tire back, HOWEVER, the guy's shop who checked it out(HOOKED ME UP!!), did NOT have a tire depth gauge....sooooooo, the rep faxed me a form to fill out...everythings cool...i just have NO idea what P.R. stands for!??

anybody have a clue? i was thinking pressure rating...but i need to be POSITIVE before i fax this thing back.......another item on the form: "pattern"....are the technical terms for tire patterns?? An NTB friend of mine wasn't even sure......any help greatly appreciated....

[Jesse IL]

I had a belt shift last week on one of my Bridgestone Potenza S-03's. Of course the local Bridgestone/Firestone wouldn't even talk to me. So I ordered a new one from Tire Rack and they said they'd take care of the warranty no problem. The jackass at the local dealer said the warranty was void because of "improper application". What the hell is the proper application of a 225/35-18 tire then? Tire Rack said as long as the rolling diameter is correct (it is) and you use the tire within its recommended load rating (check), its a proper application.

[nate22]

can someone please define P.R.?

and, is "pattern" a generic tire tread pattern description? or is the model of the tire?

i need these two to fill out claim form

[Blue Bomber]

PR (Ply Rating): The load capacity of a tire is indicated by the star rating (in case of radial tire) and the ply rating (in case of bias tire). The load index is applied in countries where the ETRTO Standards are used.

For Pattern, maybe they mean if the tire is unidirectional or not...

[nate22]

thanks chris

[nate22]

ah, crikey


sent filled out form to Kumho via fax...last thing on their list they need from me:

D.O.T. # ...haha...and NOT just the number given to them..i gotta cut it out of the tire and mail it to them.....sheesh..i'm not gonna have my wheel back on for another week AT LEAST...i'm pissed