Driving with tire bubble ok?

panzerfaust · 07-08-2011, 08:23 AM

I want to get opinions on this. I'm currently on Bridgestone Potenzas RE050A RFTs on stock 18s and have two small bubbles, one on each front tire. I already know the dangers of a bubble on a tire, so I have a set of DWS on order which will be installed this Sunday.

However before Sunday, I'm doing a 500mi. round trip drive with the RFTs and was wondering how "risky" this might be. As far as I know, RFTs don't really "blow" out and any failure will still allow me some mileage to get home/or a tire shop, right? Will I most likely be ok here?

tofu- · 07-08-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerfaust

I want to get opinions on this. I'm currently on Bridgestone Potenzas RE050A RFTs on stock 18s and have two small bubbles, one on each front tire. I already know the dangers of a bubble on a tire, so I have a set of DWS on order which will be installed this Sunday.

However before Sunday, I'm doing a 500mi. round trip drive with the RFTs and was wondering how "risky" this might be. As far as I know, RFTs don't really "blow" out and any failure will still allow me some mileage to get home/or a tire shop, right? Will I most likely be ok here?

it's even more dangerous that it's on your front tires

VMRWheels · 07-08-2011, 12:25 PM

If you are going on a 500mile road trip I would definitely not risk it. With it being on your front tires, this could be extremely dangerous.

-Charles@VMRWheels

Timothy J · 07-08-2011, 12:26 PM

Don't hit any potholes!

edirtaynine · 07-08-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

If you are going on a 500mile road trip I would definitely not risk it. With it being on your front tires, this could be extremely dangerous.

-Charles@VMRWheels

+1

panzerfaust · 07-08-2011, 12:49 PM

Does the fact that this is on a RFT prevent instant blowout? Will I still have the self-supporting ability of the RFT if I have an issue?

07-08-2011, 01:14 PM

Having a bubble in a tire is dangerous period.

anerbe · 07-08-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerfaust

Does the fact that this is on a RFT prevent instant blowout? Will I still have the self-supporting ability of the RFT if I have an issue?

No, it's if there's a leak in the tread area. RFT works if the sidewall isn't damaged.

You better change out your tires. Hitting anything with decent force will cause that tire to fail. Not worth it.

JayKay335i · 07-08-2011, 02:39 PM

Sure, but if you have a blow out, crash, and die, its your fault.

wren57 · 07-08-2011, 04:29 PM

I didn't know I had a bubble until I swapped for aftermarket wheels a few weeks ago. No telling how far I drove on it, but I did drive at least 3k miles that month. Interstate speed normally 85mph. So, yeah... mine was fine, but I wouldn't recommend it or do it again.

tibra1 · 07-08-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerfaust

I want to get opinions on this. I'm currently on Bridgestone Potenzas RE050A RFTs on stock 18s and have two small bubbles, one on each front tire. I already know the dangers of a bubble on a tire, so I have a set of DWS on order which will be installed this Sunday.

However before Sunday, I'm doing a 500mi. round trip drive with the RFTs and was wondering how "risky" this might be. As far as I know, RFTs don't really "blow" out and any failure will still allow me some mileage to get home/or a tire shop, right? Will I most likely be ok here?

When I had these tires I got bubbles constantly..the Bridgestone runflats are known for this..I had tire coverage and in two years got 6 new tires due to bubbles..

I would not drive w them b/c u can have a blow out with the tire if u hit a bump

WingZeroX5 · 07-08-2011, 04:38 PM

pop the bubble first, then drive

jk aside, u should get it changed out asap.

Victorae · 07-08-2011, 05:20 PM

I'm sorry, but what exactly is a tire bubble? Reading this thread has me quite scared.

X1 Trojan · 07-08-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victorae

I'm sorry, but what exactly is a tire bubble? Reading this thread has me quite scared.

i believe it is when the bands that go around the sidewall rip/tear and what you get is a bubble looking thing on the sidewall. see this pic:

Gimmethecash · 07-08-2011, 08:47 PM

I'd be nervous taking that ish out of my driveway, let alone a 500 mile trip.

ceb · 07-08-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerfaust

Does the fact that this is on a RFT prevent instant blowout? Will I still have the self-supporting ability of the RFT if I have an issue?

No, because a bubble means that the carcass is compromised.

Tee212 · 07-08-2011, 10:20 PM

Should be ok til it pops, then its bad.

panzerfaust · 07-11-2011, 01:27 AM

Just to update, I'm back from my trip and everything was ok! I was pretty attentive on the road and careful not to hit any unnecessary potholes, but IMO there was still a bunch of decently large impacts that I could not avoid (esp. driving in NYC until I got out of the city). Not sure if this helped, but I upped my tire pressures a little 38/40, so that the sidewall would take less of any pothole impact. Again, I understand the dangers of the bubble, but I was not really in a position to change my plans and will also be getting my DWS installed tomorrow.

FYI the bubble on my front right tire was about the size of the one in the pic a few posts above. It was just not as close to the tread and slightly lower in the sidewall. I'm not advocating driving with a bubble, but if you had to, I would say do so carefully and maybe up your pressures a bit to take the load off the sidewall, and obviously avoid as many road imperfections as possible!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wren57

I didn't know I had a bubble until I swapped for aftermarket wheels a few weeks ago. No telling how far I drove on it, but I did drive at least 3k miles that month. Interstate speed normally 85mph. So, yeah... mine was fine, but I wouldn't recommend it or do it again.

Thanks for the real world experience on driving with a bubble. This was exactly what I was looking for.

remmib · 07-11-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335 Trojan

i believe it is when the bands that go around the sidewall rip/tear and what you get is a bubble looking thing on the sidewall. see this pic:

Looks like it's gonna blow anytime.

byoung8 · 07-22-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335 Trojan

i believe it is when the bands that go around the sidewall rip/tear and what you get is a bubble looking thing on the sidewall. see this pic:

My bubbles dont look as bad as this picture, but I can definitely feel a wobble from 50mph-75mph. I think I put about 7k miles with the bubbles I have, but just recently felt the wobble. I'm looking into the Hankook V12s, but sucks we have to replace them and it could happen at any time. My car is CPO and I put 10k miles on it so far, bought 12/10

hugus311 · 07-22-2011, 02:58 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=bubbles+joke

tibra1 · 07-22-2011, 03:22 PM

Thats exactly what the bubble is..a tear in the inner wall..cool pic

07-08-2011, 08:23 AM	#1
panzerfaust Private First Class 23 Rep 133 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Queens, NYC iTrader: (2)	Driving with tire bubble ok? I want to get opinions on this. I'm currently on Bridgestone Potenzas RE050A RFTs on stock 18s and have two small bubbles, one on each front tire. I already know the dangers of a bubble on a tire, so I have a set of DWS on order which will be installed this Sunday. However before Sunday, I'm doing a 500mi. round trip drive with the RFTs and was wondering how "risky" this might be. As far as I know, RFTs don't really "blow" out and any failure will still allow me some mileage to get home/or a tire shop, right? Will I most likely be ok here? __________________ 2008 E90 328xi \| M-tech Front \| 189s \| LCI Halogens \| PE
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07-08-2011, 12:25 PM	#3
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2050 Rep 25,989 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	If you are going on a 500mile road trip I would definitely not risk it. With it being on your front tires, this could be extremely dangerous. -Charles@VMRWheels __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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07-08-2011, 12:26 PM	#4
Timothy J Captain 54 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Too much Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY iTrader: (1)	Don't hit any potholes! __________________ 2001 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 2003 VW Jetta TDI 2012 BMW F800GS 2024 BMW M2 BSM 6MT Carbon Package
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07-08-2011, 12:49 PM	#6
panzerfaust Private First Class 23 Rep 133 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Queens, NYC iTrader: (2)	Does the fact that this is on a RFT prevent instant blowout? Will I still have the self-supporting ability of the RFT if I have an issue? __________________ 2008 E90 328xi \| M-tech Front \| 189s \| LCI Halogens \| PE
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07-08-2011, 01:14 PM	#7
sisoul Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	Having a bubble in a tire is dangerous period.
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07-08-2011, 02:39 PM	#9
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	Sure, but if you have a blow out, crash, and die, its your fault.
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07-08-2011, 04:29 PM	#10
wren57 Roll Tide 591 Rep 2,345 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St Louis iTrader: (10)	I didn't know I had a bubble until I swapped for aftermarket wheels a few weeks ago. No telling how far I drove on it, but I did drive at least 3k miles that month. Interstate speed normally 85mph. So, yeah... mine was fine, but I wouldn't recommend it or do it again. __________________ Fix your broken/stripped cowl bolts with this elegant brass solution! http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20230306
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07-08-2011, 04:38 PM	#12
WingZeroX5 Colonel 767 Rep 2,362 Posts Drives: F80 / F30 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (14)	pop the bubble first, then drive jk aside, u should get it changed out asap.
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07-08-2011, 05:20 PM	#13
Victorae Lieutenant 21 Rep 549 Posts Drives: 2014 F32 \| 2014 Tesla Model S Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	I'm sorry, but what exactly is a tire bubble? Reading this thread has me quite scared.
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07-08-2011, 08:47 PM	#15
Gimmethecash Lieutenant 150 Rep 485 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Comp Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pasadena iTrader: (1)	I'd be nervous taking that ish out of my driveway, let alone a 500 mile trip.
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07-08-2011, 10:20 PM	#17
Tee212 Banned 81 Rep 4,541 Posts Drives: yes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Riverside iTrader: (9) Garage List 2010 335 [8.00]	Should be ok til it pops, then its bad.
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07-22-2011, 02:58 PM	#21
hugus311 Titanium silver + Sport + Premium 32 Rep 662 Posts Drives: 2006 330i (E90) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: west covina 626 iTrader: (6)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=bubbles+joke
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07-22-2011, 03:22 PM	#22
tibra1 Banned 129 Rep 6,773 Posts Drives: 2011 ZCP M3 - 2007 335i crashd Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	Thats exactly what the bubble is..a tear in the inner wall..cool pic
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