Depending on what you mean by "slight bulge", it could easily be tread belt separation. It needs attention asap.
Small tire bulge
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 271
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From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
Small tire bulge
I am noticing a slight bulge in the sidewall of my left front Michelin AS+ (non runflat). The others do not have this issue. Is this evidence of a belt problem and should I replace the tire now?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Memphis Tennessee
Get it checked. You definitely have an issue that will NOT go away.
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I would get that tire looked at right away. Hopefully they will cover it under a factory warranty.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 271
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From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
Thanks for all your prompt replies.
1. I should probably replace the tire. I assume I should replace both fronts so the tread wear will be the same.
2. Is there a problem with replacing the fronts with Hankook Ventus EVO rather than Michelins and not replacing the rears? The Hankooks are significantly cheaper than the Michelin and they get good reviews here.
1. I should probably replace the tire. I assume I should replace both fronts so the tread wear will be the same.
2. Is there a problem with replacing the fronts with Hankook Ventus EVO rather than Michelins and not replacing the rears? The Hankooks are significantly cheaper than the Michelin and they get good reviews here.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,167
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From: Kannapolis NC
A lot of tires, including new, have a slight bulge in the sidewall if you look at the right angle. More like a small ripple. Have it looked at and ask a tire professional. They may want to sell you a tire, but try to find someone you trust.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Redding California
I had the same thing with one of my Michelin Pilot AS's non run flats. The tires had less than 5,000 miles on them, and it was the manager at America's Tire who noticed it while the car was in for a routine balancing. It was so barely noticeable that I don't think I would have caught it. They replaced the tire under warranty immediately.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,032
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From: Del Boca Vista FL
The tire companies used to call them "undulations" and said they were normal in any radial tire. That is complete BS. Something has happened in the tire that needs to be addressed with a replacement tire before you experience a catastrophic failure of the subject tire.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
Thanks for all your prompt replies.
1. I should probably replace the tire. I assume I should replace both fronts so the tread wear will be the same.
2. Is there a problem with replacing the fronts with Hankook Ventus EVO rather than Michelins and not replacing the rears? The Hankooks are significantly cheaper than the Michelin and they get good reviews here.
1. I should probably replace the tire. I assume I should replace both fronts so the tread wear will be the same.
2. Is there a problem with replacing the fronts with Hankook Ventus EVO rather than Michelins and not replacing the rears? The Hankooks are significantly cheaper than the Michelin and they get good reviews here.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 13
From: Redding California
Here again it would depend how worn your current tires are. I'm sure you would have no problem putting new tires on the front and leaving existing tires on the back, or mixing Hankooks front with Michelin rears.
.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
I like the Michelins too, but they may not be in the budget right now.
obnoxus: I looked at the rim and did not see any bend.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
The tire companies used to call them "undulations" and said they were normal in any radial tire. That is complete BS. Something has happened in the tire that needs to be addressed with a replacement tire before you experience a catastrophic failure of the subject tire.
Melting Slicks
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From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
Thread Starter
Racer
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From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
I lied to you all, my Forum friends.
In Post #1 about this problem, I said that the tires are not runflats, but they are. I checked with my local Goodyear store which I've used for the last 30 years and they confirmed that the problem is a belt separating in the sidewall. They also showed me the "zero pressure" on the sidewall. There isn't enough tread to replace only the one tire, so I'm pricing for two. Tire Rack wants $268/tire while Goodyear wants $290, but they will price-match. Goodyear's nationwide road hazard is $58 for two tires while Tire Rack's is $106.
I'll keep my driving local and low-speed until I replace the tires.
In Post #1 about this problem, I said that the tires are not runflats, but they are. I checked with my local Goodyear store which I've used for the last 30 years and they confirmed that the problem is a belt separating in the sidewall. They also showed me the "zero pressure" on the sidewall. There isn't enough tread to replace only the one tire, so I'm pricing for two. Tire Rack wants $268/tire while Goodyear wants $290, but they will price-match. Goodyear's nationwide road hazard is $58 for two tires while Tire Rack's is $106.
I'll keep my driving local and low-speed until I replace the tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
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From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
I lied to you all, my Forum friends.
In Post #1 about this problem, I said that the tires are not runflats, but they are. I checked with my local Goodyear store which I've used for the last 30 years and they confirmed that the problem is a belt separating in the sidewall. They also showed me the "zero pressure" on the sidewall. There isn't enough tread to replace only the one tire, so I'm pricing for two. Tire Rack wants $268/tire while Goodyear wants $290, but they will price-match. Goodyear's nationwide road hazard is $58 for two tires while Tire Rack's is $106.
I'll keep my driving local and low-speed until I replace the tires.
In Post #1 about this problem, I said that the tires are not runflats, but they are. I checked with my local Goodyear store which I've used for the last 30 years and they confirmed that the problem is a belt separating in the sidewall. They also showed me the "zero pressure" on the sidewall. There isn't enough tread to replace only the one tire, so I'm pricing for two. Tire Rack wants $268/tire while Goodyear wants $290, but they will price-match. Goodyear's nationwide road hazard is $58 for two tires while Tire Rack's is $106.
I'll keep my driving local and low-speed until I replace the tires.