LonnieR

There is a small sidewall bubble on one of my front tires. Tires only have about 50% tread wear. My gut says replace both front tires. What do you guys think?
Also- isn't that condsidered a manufacturing defeat and should be covered under the tire warranty? Tires are Michelin pilot sports N4.

911SLOW

Try the warranty but do replace both asap.
Don't play around with tires. Save money on other things.

Macster

I'm pretty **** about tires. I'd replace both fronts with the same brand/n4 tires as are on there now.

Before you replace the tires you can arrange to take the car by a Michelin tire store and see if there's any recourse. While the presence of a bubble does indicate a defect in the tire, I'm not at all familiar with how long after purchase, how many miles after installation, new tires are covered for. I could imagine without some kind of tire warranty you may be SOL.

Sincerely,

Macster.

ADias

Side bubbles are bad - they imply deformed strength elements (belts). i would perhaps patch a puncture in the center tread (which does not affect strength elements), but would replace a tire with a side bubble.

fuenfer

I would replace both tires. The flexing of the tire will eventually cause the bubble to burst and turn into a sidewall puncture. Not something you want happening at any speed.

Good luck with the warranty - I've tried in the past, and have been told each time that I must have hit a pothole.

malmasri

No doubt, replace ASAP...never gamble with tires, odds never in your favor.

996FLT6

I would replace both tires. Sidewalls are the weakest links- can't patch that. If you're planning to replace pop the bubble and see what happens? Mike

tcsracing1

i have had a few bubble tires in my time.
I always stick em' on my ol' daily driver mustang which gets all my porsche tire hand me downs.

They come from under inflation and pot hole strikes usually.

The bubble wont explode as there is another layer of rubber behind it.
You can actually take a blade and cut into the bubble and the tire will still hold air because of inner layer of rubber.
I drive em like this but only on my beater driver.
Im always close enough to home in the event of a flat which has happened.

This is not something you would want to take to the track by any means.
I only bomb around town with one on my mustang until the tread is wore off for new tires.

Aim for warranty, and then keep one as a spare and toss the bubble tire.

10 GT3

First the bubble means that there is a structural failure in the tire. It could be a natural flow or that cause an impact with a pot, curb or road turtle. Bottom line, get it replaced whether it is under warranty or not. It is bubbling because the stiffening structure of the sidewall(case/belts) have failed. A thin layer of rubber is all that is keeping air in your tire. Hit just 1 bad pothole and enjoy walking home.

ir_fuel

bubble on the sidewall = structural damage to the tyre. Replace it ASAP because a pothole could be enough to make it explode.

CRex

Not to be alarmist but the above comments are correct. Tire tend to fail at the moment you need the most grip out of them. Why gamble. I'll swap them rickety tick and seek recourse if/when available.

KBS911

Replace, replace , replace! That's a big hurt waiting to happen. 50% wear is nothing compared to your potential for failure. Just not worth the risk.

Bob Rouleau

One more vote to replace both fronts since at 50 percent wear replacing one will cause problems - car might pull to one side.