# Small bulge on tire **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** legacy, tires, subaru\ **Created:** [March 18, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284 "2010-03-18T23:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/1 "2010-03-18T23:26:01Z")
Hi, I have a smallish bulge(bubble) on the sidewall of my (low profile) tire that sticks out about 1/2". Does this mean automatic replacement? This is my wife’s car for moving babies about. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/2 "2010-03-18T23:32:15Z")
ABSOLUTELY!!! Don’t mess around with questionable tires with the wife and kids lives on the line!! Is $150 worth the gamble? Really? ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/3 "2010-03-18T23:39:16Z")
Yes! ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/4 "2010-03-18T23:51:14Z")
You may have to buy 4 if it is an AWD Subaru…if so do not hesitate to do so…tires are cheap insurance ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/5 "2010-03-18T23:51:34Z")
YES!!! Yesterday!!! Do Not procrastinate!!! As Scotty used to say to Cap’n Kirk, “she’ll not take much more Cap’n”. This tire is in immenent danger of catastrophic failure. Internal damage has occurred. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/6 "2010-03-19T00:01:47Z")
It’s nothing to mess with. Replace it right away. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/7 "2010-03-19T00:21:16Z")
Thanks, I just noticed it tonight. I was hoping till next winter on these worn tires(45k). I will drop the $600-$700 on a new set of tires. ---
**Author:** ![Joe-Guy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joe-guy/32/124_2.png) [@Joe-Guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joe-Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/8 "2010-03-19T00:26:10Z")
“I will drop the $600-$700 on a new set of tires.” New tires - a few hundred bucks. Babies - priceless! New tires will be the best investment you’ve made up to this point in your life. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/9 "2010-03-19T03:02:05Z")
Are your wheels 17" or larger? ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/10 "2010-03-19T03:17:59Z")
Is this an actual bulge or one of those sidewall dimples that may appear as a bulge? If it’s the latter then it could be entirely normal and nothing to worry about as that is caused by the mold when the tire was formed. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/11 "2010-03-19T03:26:10Z")
Usually, if it’s “normal”, there is a series of ripples, not just one… One 1/2 bulge is NOT good, a curb bruise which radial tires are very tender about… ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/12 "2010-03-19T11:49:33Z")
I am not sure if dimple vs bulge. However it is singular, my wife hit a massive pothole last week and it may be related. Also the V-rated 215/45/17 tires are at 4yrs/43k mile. Do mold defects show up latter in life? ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 11:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/13 "2010-03-19T11:49:56Z")
215/45/17’s in XL load and V-rated ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/14 "2010-03-19T14:15:38Z")
No. Mold defects are there from the beginning. They just get easier to see as the tire ages. Just take the vehicle to bright sunlight and wet them. Look down along the sidewalls and you will see them. Bulges are blowouts in the beginning stage. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/15 "2010-03-19T16:54:12Z")
A 1/2" sidewall bulge is a sure sign of internal damage. Enough procrastinating, head to the tire store immediately. The lives of your loved ones are at stake. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/16 "2010-03-19T17:28:39Z")
I totally agree that if it has a real bulge in it that it should be replaced. I’m only pointing out that a fair number of tires may have an area that people mistake as a bulge when that is not the case. [http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=32](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=32) ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/17 "2010-03-19T17:39:52Z")
Tire is getting replaced ASAP and car is parked. Wife took the car to library 1 mile away. It now turned into a 2" long crack in the sidewall. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-bulge-on-tire/46284/18 "2010-03-19T17:50:28Z")
Pot-holes and 45 aspect ratio tires and wheels were made for each other. When you hit the hole, the sidewall compresses right down to the edge of the rim and that can easily damage the tire…Ouch!