Posted on 2/27/2026
A tire bubble can show up after an impact you barely remember. You hit a pothole or clip a curb, then the car drives fine. Later you notice a bulge on the sidewall that looks wrong. That bulge is a warning sign you should take seriously. What A Tire Bubble Means A bubble forms when the internal cords in the sidewall get damaged. The outer rubber can stay intact, but the structure underneath is weakened, so air pressure pushes outward. That is why the bump looks smooth instead of torn. Plugs and patches are not the answer here. They work in the tread area when a puncture is small and contained. Sidewall damage is structural, so replacement is the safe fix. Why Sidewall Damage Is A Big Deal Sidewalls flex constantly in turns and over bumps. When the cords are compromised, that flexing can make the bubble grow or fail with little notice. Heat, speed, and heavy loads all increase the stress. Many failures happen at higher spe ... read more