A herniated tire: is it possible to drive and what to do about it?
A lopsided swelling of a car wheel is commonly referred to as a hernia. Usually a hernia appears as a result of damage to the inner layers of the tire. The consequence can be a wobbling of the wheel, because when the tire is blown, its balancing is disturbed. It is not always possible to repair a herniated tire, and even after repairing a herniated tire, it is usually not possible to fully restore the tire’s properties.
Nevertheless, a tire with a hernia can be partially restored, and it can be installed only on the rear axle or used as a spare wheel.
At the end of this article, watch the video for tips on how to deal with a herniated tire and what to do if the tire is blown on the road.
Also, the motorist should be aware that if the lateral hernia is large, many tire shops will likely refuse to repair it.
Causes of a herniated tire and its consequences
A hernia on a wheel can appear for a variety of reasons.
- Violation of tire manufacturing technology. Most often the defect appears in the first year of operation.
- Potholes on the roads and driving on curbs. Depending on the shape and size of the pothole (kerb), as well as the speed of the car and the quality of the tire, a “bump” of a certain size is formed.
- Side cut. A bulge on the side surface also appears after a tire cut, or after a wheel has rubbed against a curb.
- CAR ACCIDENT. A hernia can also be the result of a car accident if a hard blow hits the wheel.
How does a tire blowout form? Very simply. The tire is a multi-layer construction: it has a carcass (made of metal cord), a textile layer, a bandage and a tread.
When a wheel hits a deep pothole while driving, the tire “punctures” to the disc. The tire is completely compressed and for a fraction of a second is pressed hard between the wheel and the asphalt. This damages the textile layer fibers that are located inside the side of the wheel.
Since the rubber is soft and elastic (in the side of the tire), a pressure of 2-2.5 atmospheres from the inside squeezes out the hernia where the integrity of the fibers is compromised. The size of a herniated tire is determined by the construction of the tire and the number of torn fibers in its textile layer.
Can I drive with a herniated tire?
At first glance, a lateral tire herniation is not a critical defect that affects driving safety. However, the following negative phenomena occur when driving a car with a damaged tire:
- Wheel runout, which leads to rapid wear of the hub bearing and suspension parts;
- Tire heating;
- Increased pressure in the wheel.
A tire with a herniated tire can burst when the load on the wheel increases in many cases. Here are just a few of them:
- At high speeds.
- When the weight of the vehicle increases.
- During emergency braking.
- When another tire hits a pothole.
- When driving on a bumpy road.
Therefore, it is necessary to treat this type of wheel damage responsibly, the more so as tire manufacturers categorically forbid driving on tires with even small hernias.
Practice shows that tires with even minor hernias often burst on the move. As a result, there is a threat of getting the car into an emergency situation.
Ways to repair a herniated tire
Services to repair a herniated side of the wheel are provided by many domestic tire repair shops. But not every case is repairable. It is impossible to repair the damaged fibers and threads. Their high factory strength cannot be returned to anyone.
The shop will most likely install a patch in place of the hernia, using the vulcanization method. It is best if it is reinforced. Such a repair will allow you to get to your final destination.
After the repair, the geometry, weight and balance of the tire changes. The uniformity of the tire in terms of stiffness is also impaired. There will be a small bump in the damaged area even after the repair.
The cost of repair, depending on the size of the hernia, ranges from 1000 to 5000 rubles, which is often comparable with the price of used tires.
It is not always possible to remove the wheel run-out by balancing after a hernia repair. That is why installing such a wheel on the front axle is rather dangerous. Even if there is no tire blowout, the steering rack, hub bearing, shock absorber, silent blocks, ball joints etc. will be subjected to increased wear while driving.
In some cases, a tube is inserted inside the damaged tire. However, the absence of reinforcing fibres in the tube does not increase the stiffness and strength of the wheel. In addition, the balance of the wheel is disturbed, increasing the likelihood of heating the tire.
Sometimes tire experts stitch the sidewall with a hernia with thick kapron threads, and then vulcanize this area with raw rubber.
What to do on the road, if there was a hernia on the wheel?
When forming a herniated wheel on the road, you should use a few useful tips.
- When you find a “bump” on the highway on a long journey, it is best to replace the wheel. If this cannot be done, you should continue driving to the nearest tire fitting shop, reducing your speed to a safe level.
- Periodically it is necessary to make a full stop of the car and watch the size of a hernia. If the size of the “bump” increases rapidly, the risk of a tire rupture increases.
- If a hernia occurs on the front wheel, you should move it to the rear axle. If a tire tear occurs, the likelihood of maintaining vehicle handling remains high.
Repairing a herniated tire is a temporary measure. It will not be possible to fully restore the initial parameters of the tire, so you cannot leave it on the car. Damaged rubber is subject to disposal, at most, it can be used as a “spare”.
Hernia on the wheel is it possible to drive?
Wheels on cars with each generation increase in size, and low-profile rubber appears on budget models. The reliability of such tires is less and the chance of damage increases significantly. Many car owners ignore the appearance of tire hernias and postpone replacement until a more favorable financial situation, which you should not do.
Low profile tires look more stylish, but they are less resistant to external stresses than regular rubber. Vehicle owners often procrastinate with replacing tires, and in our road conditions, this leads to:
– Bent or broken rims – A bump on the tire
What does a herniated tire look like?
When a tread hole forms on a wheel, the driver clearly feels its presence. When driving, it affects the controllability: the car loses balance, and every impact is felt twice as strongly. There are also lateral hernias, which are often ignored by motorists because of their insignificant effect on the movement of the car. Despite the fact that the balance remains normal, you should not leave such a tire on the car, even if the side hernia on the wheel is small.
The bump appears as a protrusion above the surface of the tread. A hernia on the tire occurs as a result of wear of the cortex – the inner layer. The slightest defect in the cords will turn out to be a bulge on the wheel with pressure. Most often, the bump on the wheel is small in diameter. But, as you drive, it increases in size and becomes visible to the naked eye. There are cases when the swelling does not increase and the driver drives until the final wear of the tires.
What causes a hernia?
There may be several reasons for hernias: defective factory tires, wheels hitting a curb or pothole at speed, collision and impact in an accident. In case of a defect from the manufacturer, the defect will appear in the first weeks of use, and car owners will be able to replace the wheel under warranty without any problems. What to do if a herniated tire is caused by an accident? You have to solve the problem yourself. Much more often protrusions appear on the front wheels, which have a greater impact load. The pressure on the front axle is higher, since the main elements of the car are located at the front.
When the bump reaches a large size, it provokes impacts while driving. Most drivers go to car services at this very stage. But even a small hernia changes the distribution of pressure on the wheel and can cause the tire to overheat. When a driver asks the question, “Can I drive with a herniated tire? “, the answer is unequivocal – no.
The consequences of riding on such tires
The main danger of tires with defects is a dramatic loss of tightness. Simply put, the wheel can simply burst. When this happens to the front wheels, the car dramatically loses control and can go into a skid. If there is a bulge in the wheel, sudden braking and starting, driving at high speeds, heavy weight of a loaded car, and repeated impacts on uneven pavement become dangerous. Therefore, the risk remains high with every trip, even with minor lateral tire hernias.
What to do with a wheel bump?
Experienced drivers advise that when detected, it is advisable to immediately replace it with a spare wheel. Many people leave the fifth wheel with defects lying in the trunk for many years. This is argued by the fact that emergency situations are rare and you can not fear. In a good way, a hernia on the car wheel implies the full disposal of the failed tire. If there is no spare tire in the car, and you still need to continue driving, then it is recommended to do the following manipulations:
– Reduce tire pressure – Drive at slower speeds – Avoid sudden braking and maneuvers
You can also reposition the front tire in place of the rear tire, as it is easier to maintain handling if the rear tire ruptures. If a herniated car tire occurred on a long road, it is recommended to make more frequent stops to check the condition of the rubber.
Can a tire with a cord defect be repaired?
At the nearest tire service, specialists will decide what to do with a herniated tire. The possibility of repair is judged by the condition of the inner layer of the tire. Even if the tire can be repaired, the original reliability characteristics will be unattainable. Therefore, the repaired wheel will only be suitable as a fifth spare wheel.
What to do with a tyre tire on the side or on the tread is also regulated by the “List of Faults that prohibit the operation of vehicles”. It says: “If the tires have damages that expose the cord, delaminate the tread frame and sidewalls, it is forbidden to drive on this tire.
To summarize we can say that you should not economize on your own safety. It is always better to have a whole wheel in stock, with which you can replace a defective one. The best option is to have two tires to be able to adequately distribute the load within one axle.
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