If you own and drive a car, then you have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that it is safe and roadworthy before you get going. You can satisfy this responsibility by taking the vehicle into a qualified mechanic for scheduled maintenance, but you also need to keep an eye on certain areas each day, just in case. What do you need to be on the lookout for when it comes to the condition of your tyres?

Weekly Inspection

Most people understand that they need to keep an eye on their covers, to make sure that there is plenty of tread depth left and to watch out for any nails or other sharp objects that may have become embedded. Yet they may not pay as much attention to the sidewall as they should, especially when it comes to a bulge or bubble.

What to Watch for

You should inspect both sides of each tyre, no matter how difficult that might be, to make sure that you don't have an imperfection like this. If you don't, the worst-case scenario is that it could lead to imminent tyre failure.

Impact Break

A bulge or bubble is the result of an impact break, and this can be caused when you hit something like a pothole or kerb at some speed. You may not notice anything untoward at that moment, but the force produced when the weight of the vehicle applies pressure to that part of the tyre will lead to internal failure. Some of the cords that are meant to provide strength inside the carcass can fail, or the inner tube can puncture, leading to this type of visible damage.

Elevated Risk

The impact itself is not sufficient to cause a puncture, and most of the air will remain within the rubber. However, the sidewall will be under considerable stress, and this part of the cover is relatively thin at this point. In other words, it won't take much in the way of an additional impact to cause a failure, and this could also happen when the tyre overheats at speed.

What About an Indentation?

If you notice an indentation instead of a bulge, this is not cause for panic, however. This type of imperfection is quite normal when any new tyre is inflated, and it is not necessarily a sign of failure.

What to Do Next

If you notice a bulge or a bubble at any time, drive to your nearest tyre fitter as soon as possible, and at a slow speed. This tyre will need to be replaced and cannot be repaired under most circumstances.

For more information about car tyres, visit a car service provider.