I have had a slight wobble as if one of my rims is bent (or perhaps they werent properly balanced). I just got a new set of LM reps from Modbargains and drove in NYC last weekend. I noticed the wobble after. I do not feel it at all at speeds of 0-40ish but once over that or if i'm accelerating hard I start to feel it. I just inspected all the rims. None seem to have visible bends but I did find this bubble. I looked at the rim with the bubble extra carefully to see if I noticed any bends but to my naked eye, I can't see anything.


Here is a photo I just took. The tire with the bubble is my passenger rear tire.



Also does it look safe to drive on for a day or two while my shop orders another tire? I'm not sure if I will have an extra car to drive tomorrow.

Thanks

 

Maybe a slight flat spot on the wheel from the impact not discernible without "spinning" the wheel, or perhaps a wheel weight was lost. With a sidewall bubble, I would shy away from highway driving, and check air tire pressure often (due to slow leak). If you have RFT, those sidewall are stronger than on a conventional tire.

 

Thanks for the response. They are not RFT, just regular old General UHP's. I'll get them checked out tomorrow. Just hoping its not a bent rim already. Literally had them mounted for 2 weeks.

 

Have you driven with it past 60 mph? Possible damage to rim, bent or minor crack. Did you go over a pot hole? If there s vibration past 60, good chance the rim is bent. Replace the tire asap to avoid a blow out at high speed. Have the tire balanced and may be alignment is needed if you did go over a large bump.

Hope it's nothing serious.

 

DO NOT drive on that tire if you don't have to. Aside from the fact that the wheel is probably bent, the steel belt(s) that hold up the side wall has been damaged. You basically have no support on the 1-2 inch section of the tire. The bubble you see is the air pushing out on the weak spot. This makes it vulnerable when the air in the tire expands during high speed driving and on hot days.

 

I ordered a new tire yesterday. I haven't driven on it since I noticed it. They are installing a new tire today and spinning all my rims to see if they are bent.

Thanks everyone!

 

Just had my tire replaced. No rim bends & the wobble is gone! Lucky it only cost me $265 installed....