Tire looks funny at the line. Safe?

[Whatever]

Hi, this is a strange tire looks (on finger passing its not smooth and also its not a “bulge”.. its rather like a sort of small deformation (most likely from hitting a big stone?!).
is this tire safe? Its only 7k miles. If I take it off and inspect it inside (its run flat) and find no visual cracks, is it really enough to decide that its safe?

i want to initially avoid garages because they dont want to even look, and just want you to buy a new set.

any help is much appreciated.

 

[GMFan]

Someone with more knowledge than me will reply, but that looks normal. Something about where the tire “joins”. All tires have this to some degree.

 

[Cujet]

How does it drive? Shake or smooth?

I'm not one to freak out about minor imperfections. That could be nothing more than a manufacturing defect, or it could be where the tire took a very sharp hit. But since it's a "run flat" it's likely to be very safe. Those tires can operate just fine without any air, without creating an unsafe condition, and I'm guessing you have a tire pressure monitor system.

 

[spasm3]

Since it's not a uniform bubble, I'd replace it. I've seen tires that had a wave in the sidewall from manufacturing, but that one makes me worried about a broken belt.

@CapriRacer would know best.

 

[Whatever]

.. an update, I looked inside the tyre and there was absolutely no crack or anything. Garage says they are runflat so they are hard to see cracks in them unless its a big bulge. He recommended to drive safely for couple of weeks and see if it changes, as it looks for now as a surface defect and not deep inside.. or simply fork 500$ on 2 new tires, albeit he sees in unnecessary right now.. left the garage unsure and more confused now ha

Anyone has a real life experience here?

 

[Whatever]

How does it drive? Shake or smooth?

I'm not one to freak out about minor imperfections. That could be nothing more than a manufacturing defect, or it could be where the tire took a very sharp hit. But since it's a "run flat" it's likely to be very safe. Those tires can operate just fine without any air, without creating an unsafe condition, and I'm guessing you have a tire pressure monitor system.

It does not vibrate and funnily enough drives to 120mph with zero noise or vibration. Been driving on smooth rocks for 2 years now so not sure if its an old deformation or new, I only discovered it by coincidence when i wanted to remove that sticky color on the wheel when I saw it..

 

[Whatever]

Since it's not a uniform bubble, I'd replace it. I've seen tires that had a wave in the sidewall from manufacturing, but that one makes me worried about a broken belt.

@CapriRacer would know best.

Yeah its not an indentation because I heard those indentations go across the wall, not just a deformed “lining” as seen in the photo. When i pass my palm on the tire, I do feel a very very small lump (unifrom) but visually its very hard to see the “lump” clearly.. only reason I noiced it is because the lining didnt look continuous and archly.. looked simply deformed

 

[Whatever]

More pics from different angle

 

[Cujet]

Cut the tire apart when you are done with it. You'll probably find that's where the belt ended, and the defect seems to be on a bias, exactly how a belt is configured.

 

[Whatever]

Cut the tire apart when you are done with it. You'll probably find that's where the belt ended, and the defect seems to be on a bias, exactly how a belt is configured.

How do you mean? Can you elaborate more pls

 

[RhondaHonda]

I’d run it and just keep an eye on it every few weeks or so.

 

[Marcozi]

This is why I buy only Michelin tires.

 

[Whatever]

This is why I buy only Michelin tires.

The come with the car from brand new.

 

[Whatever]

I’d run it and just keep an eye on it every few weeks or so.

I have 2k miles trip next week hence am debating to fork 500$ and feel “safe”.. am no expert or I wouldnt ask here. Garages would love to make profit so they wont bother to look and just say: replace it

 

[Whatever]

@CapriRacer any advice here? Cheers

 

[JohnnyG]

I just checked mine. Same tire, probably same size, and definitely Mercedes Original Equipment (MOE) run flats. Anyway mine have no bulge or no visible belt overlap on the sidewall.
That appears to be impact damage, just as you suspected. It does not appear to be too severe to me. I think I'd put it on a rear axel and run it for a while, and keep a close eye on it.

 

[atikovi]

Looks like you hit a pothole or debris in the road and broke a cord internally. I'd run it until it got noticeably bigger. Air will migrate to the injury and balloon out if its bad.

 

[Whatever]

I just checked mine. Same tire, probably same size, and definitely Mercedes Original Equipment (MOE) run flats. Anyway mine have no bulge or no visible belt overlap on the sidewall.
That appears to be impact damage, just as you suspected. It does not appear to be too severe to me. I think I'd put it on a rear axel and run it for a while, and keep a close eye on it.

Yeah I checked all others and al of them look in tact. The tire got hit by driving on big stones, but seems shallow. If you zoom into the photo, you can see small dents in same area.

 

[Whatever]

Looks like you hit a pothole or debris in the road and broke a cord internally. I'd run it until it got noticeably bigger. Air will migrate to the injury and balloon out if its bad.

Hmm.. so you think if I drive under load on motorway for an hour, if this is a cord issue, it would grow, otherwise, its only a surface damage? Im debating if I should do that on a Sunday when the motorway is not congested. Next week Im going on a long trip (2k miles) with the family, hence the concern. Part of the trip has awful roads and awful drivers too.

 

[Traction]

Bulges like that come from pinching the sidewall against something, which puts a small cut on the inner liner causing the outer layer to bubble outwards. I've seen ones much worse than that which would be a concern. Just keep an eye on it and it will probably be fine.