What to do - Falken Ziex sidewall bubble

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JHZR2

JHZR2

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Hi,

I have falken ziex ze512 tires in 195/65r-14 on my 91 BMW. The car is a commuter car, nothing that gets used hard or severely.

I had them off for the wintertime, and after putting them back on a week ago, I noted a sidewall bubble.

I drive lightly, and the tread is almost all there. However, being a BMW (reccomended not to rotate them by the company), I have not rotated them. I have maybe 16k miles on the tires in total, and they still look liek new.

Given that I use the car very little on the real, high speed highway, is a bubble much to worry about?

What is my best method of getting a replacement, given no rotation record, and a lacking mileage record? It is obvously a defect in manufacture. Im not claiming that they wore out, or that the tires didnt work as described, I am just very upset that I have a sizeable bubble in the sidewall, which in my opinion should not be there - Ive never had such a thing in any other of my tires, and this is my first time with a non mainstream manufacturer.

Any suggestions or advice???

Thanks,

JMH
 
If you can find a dealer I don't think you will have much trouble. I have had a few tires replaced for various reasons with little trouble. It will probably be a pro rated exchange and when they figure it they use their numbers. Probably a very high number for the replacement tire. Rotation shouldn't matter now.

Then you will have to consider matching it with another new tire; more money. Or else you will be have a good one to replace the spare with next time you buy tires.

Last tire I exchanged was at Costco for a Michlelin and I chose to just get the one and leave it on the front.
 
As hard as it may seem to be, this is not a factory defect.

If you examine the sidewall, it is a series of small cords. If some of those cords are missing or broken, then you get a bulge.

So, if it wasn't there when you first got the tires, that leaves only one possibility - impact. And unless you got Road Hazard coverage, it's not adjustable, but many dealers will do a courtesy adjustment for you, anyway. Worth a try.
 
Interesting... thanks!

Apparently these tires are well known to do this, something that I didnt know when I bought them (which, I bought on price and CR ratings). Its not just me.

Also, the tires did not have the bulge prior to changing them back. Could it be that when the car was re-lowered, it introuced a stress the wrong way?!? I watch this kind of stuff pretty closely.

Capriracer, you claim that it is not a factory defect, but then attribute the issue to sidewall cords being missing or broken - how else would this be the case???

Ive also noticed that the UV protection inherent to the rubber compound in these tires is inferior to, say, the dunlop sport A2 tires, Pirelli P6 and BF goodrich All terrain T/A tires, all of which are roughly the same age and live in the same conditions... these tires are much more brown and have microcracks in the rubber, which the others do not.

I dont think Ill be buying Falken again...

Thanks,

JMH
 
I actually researched the 512's thoroughly & bought it based on some people's recommendation & knowledge about the lower costs Asian brands' characteristics.

They all have 1 thing in common: Soft sidewalls.

So it is imperative to get the psi up & over the car manufacturer's suggested labeling (usually the ubiquitous 32 all around) I run mine's @ 37f/35r.

Have found the ride to be good though stiffer (I like that type tho) & the handling to be better.

So wether it's Kumho, Fuzion, Toyo, or Falken's: pump up that psi.

If you do that, you will minimize any of the soft sidewalls' negatives.
 
BMW reccomended 30f/33r on my car. I run 33f/35r... guess I wasnt high enough still!!!

I would now like to know, given that information, if since I do have a sidewall bubble, should I refrain from going over manufacturer's spec in inflation? The sidewall is weaker, thus my worry...

Thanks for the tip!

JMH
 
I'd take it in to the Falken dealer and see if they'll do anything for you. As White said, they may just prorate it based on tread depth so mileage and rotation shouldn't be an issue. Is there any evidence of external sidewall damage?
 
Quote:

.......Also, the tires did not have the bulge prior to changing them back.........

.........Capriracer, you claim that it is not a factory defect, but then attribute the issue to sidewall cords being missing or broken - how else would this be the case???.......

Click to expand...


When you said you had the tires a year, I assumed you would have noticed a bulge before that. Missing cords don't just disappear - they were either there or they weren't. If they weren't there you would have a bulge from the "git go".

If not, then hitting a object - like a curb - can break cords. Sometimes it isn't so much the size of the object as much as it is it's shape. For example - a pyramid woild be worse than a cube.
 
OK, thanks!!!

Any advise on the smarts of me bumping up pressure at this point, given a compromised sidewall?

Best,

JMH
 
Mine still look perfect after 2 years. I use snows in the winter. A bulge is normal for some tires but a bubble means air has gotten through a layer where it should not have gotten. Typically a bubble on the street side of the tire is considered use damage and is not covered by the typical warranty.

Richard
 
I've had curb/pothole created bulges cause blowouts. That part of the sidewall is weakened and will give out when you least expect it.

Since the roads where I live are decaying, tires with strong sidewalls is a must. There are a bunch of tires that I won't use which include certain discount, generic, and imported brands.

Tire pressure won't do anything. If you value your vehicle or your life, you should just replace the tire(s).

Something to think about: all the wet performance, dry performance, tire wear life, comfort, handling..... is meaningless if the tire self destructs because of a pebble in the road.

From the web:
This is called an impact break and typically occurs when the tire has hit a pothole or other object, pinching the sidewall between the rim and the object, causing damage to the tire carcass. Air pressure in the tire exposes this weakness, causing a bubble where the structural damage has occurred.

Are NJ roads paved nice and smooth?
 
I warned you guys, Falkens are complete garbage.

falken2s.jpg


Put the bad on on the rear, run until it's low and use the other rear as a spare when you rotate the other 2 from the front to the rear and replace them with some nice Kumhos.
 
wow, thats a big one!!! mine isnt that large, and it is only one.

Not sure Ill be trusting kumhos either... more likely itll be name brand tires, not the asian brands (except toyo whic has always done well for me).

JMH
 
Quote:


Any advise on the smarts of me bumping up pressure at this point, given a compromised sidewall?

Best,

JMH

Click to expand...


PRETTY STUPID!!!!!

That sucker's gonna BLOW! Long distance diagnosis would be whoever mounted it damaged bead area. Other possibilities, Run flat (almost 100% guarantee that's whats wrong with tire in picture),long foreign object has punctured tread area and is beginning to come back out sidewall, dropped off curb/tile end and cords damaged.

Capri's right (as allways) road hazard. Though a good hearted dealer(like me
wink.gif
) may CYA for you.

Bob
 
Quote:

....

Not sure Ill be trusting kumhos either... more likely itll be name brand tires, not the asian brands (except toyo whic has always done well for me).

JMH

Click to expand...


Bridgestone is a Japanese(aka Asian) tire company that make tires of great quality and performance.
 
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