Lump on car tire wall

[Connoisseur]

So I drove up to Vermont and I noticed my right tire has a lump on the tire wall (about the size of a nickel). I have to drive back to NJ tomorrow afternoon (~230 miles). Is this something I have to worry about? What can cause this?

::Edit:: after some research I found that this can be caused by an air bubble caused by manufacturing defect or a rim pinch. is this gonna cause my tire to explode? I want to be able to drive home. My tired only have about 800-1000 miles on them.

 

[DivideBYZero]

New tyre. Now.

Why risk your life for $100?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

yea i also heard its bad for your tires... suggest replacement now to save time/injury in the future when u get a flat unexpectedly

 

[LordUnum]

^ Yup. The structural integrity of that tire's been significantly compromised. The sidewall doesn't have anywhere near the reinforcement the tread has (belts and such), so that tire could go out on the highway at any time and for any reason. It could be in 15 miles or 1500... but why take the chance? Just bite the bullet and replace it now.

 

[Connoisseur]

I have no issue with the money. The problem is i'm in east bumble-fvck Vermont and it'll be a Sunday. I don't know any shops around here and if any of them are open. hmmm crap. and it's snowing.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'm guessing you don't have a full-size spare?

 

[Throckmorton]

It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
I'm guessing you don't have a full-size spare?

No. Just a regular spare.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

Bought it from tirerack.com. Once again, the issue isn't of money. it's that i'm stuck in vermont and I have to drive home tomorrow with the gf.

 

[Capt Caveman]

As long as you don't speed, you should be able to make it back to NJ.

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

Bought it from tirerack.com. Once again, the issue isn't of money. it's that i'm stuck in vermont and I have to drive home tomorrow with the gf.

I think NTB covers tirerack stuff, not sure though. I think you will be fine, but just to cover my ass I will say that you should get a new tire.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: MetalMat

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

Bought it from tirerack.com. Once again, the issue isn't of money. it's that i'm stuck in vermont and I have to drive home tomorrow with the gf.

I think NTB covers tirerack stuff, not sure though. I think you will be fine, but just to cover my ass I will say that you should get a new tire.

heh heh. I don't think i have a choice. Just have to say a little prayer and drive back. I won't be driving with it again once I get safely back home.

 

[Jeff7181]

Sidewall defects are especially dangerous because the sidewall is constantly being flexed as you drive. If I were you, I'd throw the spare on and not take a chance with the defective tire, especially if you're driving at highway speeds.

 

[jagec]

Well, 80 times out of 100 you can drive on it and be OK. 19 times out of 100 you drive on it and suffer a flat, but be able to pull over and put on the spare. 1 time out of 100, you'll get a blowout and crash.

Numbers are approximate.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

got AAA? autozone/pepboys/monroe etc check. they're open sundays.

whats ur location zip? why don't u look up some places that are open near u that sells tires?
i don't even feel comfortable driving on over/under inflated tired for long trips, never mind a deformed tire.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
As long as you don't speed, you should be able to make it back to NJ.

This is bullshit advice. OP, please ignore it and get a new tyre. You're not trying hard enough. There are always places to get a tyre.

 

[dawp]

I'm sure there's a Sears nearby where ever you're at. just ask around. they will most likely be open.

Now I hate Sears Auto with a passion. screwed me over in the past. But in a pinch, I'd go there if i had to.

 

[bruceb]

If you can not get a new tire, then either use the spare or
move the tire to the Rear and drive no faster than 40 mph or so.
At least in the rear, if it does blow out, you can easily control the
car to get to the side of the road. As for the lump in the sidewall,
I have had a couple of them in my day, and I usually went to replace
it as soon as it was practical (like next day)

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

Bought it from tirerack.com. Once again, the issue isn't of money. it's that i'm stuck in vermont and I have to drive home tomorrow with the gf.

That's why buying from Tire Rack makes no sense. Discount Tire at least will price match, and then you can get service easily. Money may not be an issue.. but in that case why bother with Tire Rack?

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Connoisseur

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
It's probably covered by the warranty... so go to where you bought the tires.

Bought it from tirerack.com. Once again, the issue isn't of money. it's that i'm stuck in vermont and I have to drive home tomorrow with the gf.

That's why buying from Tire Rack makes no sense. Discount Tire at least will price match, and then you can get service easily. Money may not be an issue.. but in that case why bother with Tire Rack?

There are no Discount Tire stores in Vermont or NJ. I'm kinda in the same boat as I did buy my tires at Discount Tire and then moved to MO where there aren't any.

 

[Connoisseur]

Just wanted to provide a quick update. I was driving back to Jersey City, NJ from West Dover, VT (Mt. Snow skiing). The problem is that it's a Sunday and apparently the entire state shuts down on Sunday. So I had the GF locate a Sears Auto Center as per dawp's suggestion. The closest one was in Albany. So we drove around for a couple of hours, stopped by a couple of other prospective tire places (like Walmart Tire Center) to no avail and finally ended up in the Sears Auto center. A couple of hours later I drove away with a new pair of front tires (Falken something or others) and a stomach full of cheesecake factory. Probably a good idea since driving in Jersey City and NY sucks balls.