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Old 06-04-2002, 07:56 PM   #1
robert99b
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Question bubble on sidewall - question for tire experts

I just found a bubble on sidewall of my front left tire (Kumho 225/40-18). I went in to the shop I bought it from, and claimed that it must be defective tire. I have about 5000 miles on these tires, and just discovered the bump 2 days ago.

The store claims that if it was defect, it would have happened immediately (or within 1000 miles). What happened in my case, they claimed, is that I must have had impact with curb or dip. They said with the low profile tires, the only way for them to develop bubbles is from impact damage. There was no damage to my rim, so I wasn't convinced that the bubble was caused by impact. We "discussed" for 15 minutes, but I ended up paying for new tire to be put on.

Did I get screwed? Any comments welcomed.
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Old 06-04-2002, 08:00 PM   #2
chmoorewrx
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They said the same thing about my snow tire! Yeah, I do think you got screwed, but so did I. They said bubbles like that NEVER happen on their own. But I never hit anything hard with it, so......oh well. Discount Tire can kiss my....well, you know!
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Old 06-04-2002, 08:14 PM   #3
tora
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Was there any other damage to the tire? If you sliced the tire on a piece of metal or something that did not go completely THROUGH the tire but may have weekend it enough for a bubble to form.
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Old 06-04-2002, 08:29 PM   #4
robert99b
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There were no other visible damages to the tire. But then, the bubble was still in its infancy. So tiny... I didn't want to take any chances because I am going to the track in a couple of weeks.
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Old 06-04-2002, 08:33 PM   #5
TaiChih
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Your(steel/nylon/etc.) radial belting went, and if it has no visible damage on the exterior, take it back for an exchange. It's defective.
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Old 06-04-2002, 09:51 PM   #6
ColinL
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what bullensheissen. TaiChi has it right-- if there's no scuff on the carcass of the tire OR the rim, then it's obvious that this wasn't the result of external forces.

stomp back in there and get your due.
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Old 06-05-2002, 12:00 AM   #7
proecm
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I have bubbles on my tires on my left side too. But I can openly admit that I hit a curb to cause it. No evident damage to either rim or surface of tire. Seriously, a bubble very rarely if ever just appear out of nothing. If you have a budget tire, yes, the cord might lose but it won't be on the sidewall unless you are abusing it, like I did. BTW mine were712's.


/David
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Old 06-05-2002, 12:23 AM   #8
Conduit
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Oh yes you can, by not running enough air in it for too long. My old car was driven around by someone for a week on 25psi 225/40/18s and the entire inside of the tire was bubbled. Have you been careful with your pressures? Super stiff tires don't have the slack to make up for low pressure like that...these aren't run flats
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Old 06-05-2002, 10:28 AM   #9
jeffg
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Tire defects occur just like anything else. An improper binding application can cause a tire to seperate, excessive heat can cause a seperation, etc.

You should not have to pay for anything. If you did you should call the manufacturer of the tire and tell them. They might be able to help you out. Do you have pictures of the seperation or anything like that?

J
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Old 06-05-2002, 01:56 PM   #10
robert99b
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Well, I'm a f*cking idiot because I should have taken the tire with me yesterday...

I contacted Kumho and spoke to their claims rep. He told me that it could have been caused by impact or defect. The way to confirm would have been to press in on the bubble and determine whether there was a soft spot. He offered for me to have the shop contact them if any questions.

I was basically told the same thing yesterday at the shop yesterday. Unfortunately, they did not mark the location of bubble before removing it from the rim, so they were not able to point it out to me.

I called the shop again today. Turned out the junk yard picked up the tires this morning, so they don't have it anymore. Damn, got rid of the evidence... Anyway, the shop guy claimed he checked for the soft spot, which I know to be BS because I was with the tire the whole time I was there. And he claimed again that only impact would have caused bubble. So I got in a 3-way telephone with shop guy and Kumho guy. Again, shop guy claimed to have checked for soft spot. Upon hearing that, Kumho guy said it definitely would not have been covered under warranty if the soft spot was there. Well, without evidence present, I wouldn't have gotten any further, so I just thanked both for them time and got off the phone.

Lesson learned:
1. I'm an idiot
2. Take the tire with me next time
3. Insist to see defect next time
4. No more Kumhos. I don't recall impact (and if gentle bumping into tire stops caused this, the tire absolutely sucks; though it is very unlikely that I even bumped any tire stops because I'm mindful of pulling too forward and scratched up the bottom of my bumper). My 1.5 year old Pirelli P7000 Supersport with 12000 miles never had this problem.
5. No more business with the shop because the guy BS'ed about checking out the problem, and their people did not point out the problem area even though I requested to see it.

Oh, and my tires were properly inflated all the time, 32~36 for the life of the tire.

Everyone, thanks for your comments.
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Old 06-05-2002, 02:27 PM   #11
Jack
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"I called the shop again today. Turned out the junk yard picked up the tires this morning, so they don't have it anymore. Damn, got rid of the evidence... "

or one of the mechanics has it on his car in the parking lot......

jack
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Old 06-05-2002, 03:01 PM   #12
jeffg
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If the mechanic put the tire on his car, then he deserves the blow out he gets.

bubbles on the side wall would have to be caused by a major impact. Something like hitting a huge foot deep pot hole or jumping the car. Basically you would need the impact to be forceful enough to seperate the binding that holds the tire together.

Sorry to say, but I think you got screwed.

J
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Old 06-05-2002, 06:47 PM   #13
robmarch
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Even slight bubbles can turn into blowouts at the worst times. It's worth paying to have it replaced for your safety, even if you might not have had to pay.

Since you shared your experience, now there are thousands here who will know what to do when they have similar problems. Hope the new tire works out for you.
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