What is Tire Sidewall Damage and How Do You Fix It?

This is all related to the tread of the tire, the rigged layer of rubber that surrounds the top of the tire, but what about the smooth area along the sides? This is known as the sidewall of the tire and is very different to the tread section.

In this article we will look at the potential damage that can occur along this so-called sidewall and what it can mean for the tire as a whole. We will help you understand when it is time to replace a tire that has sidewall damage and whether there are any possible fixes.

What Is a Tire Sidewall?

When we consider the outside aspect of a tire there are two main parts: the tread which is the part that makes contact with the road and the sidewall which does not make contact unless you are unfortunate enough to roll the car on its side.

The job of the tire wall is to protect the cord plies which are strands of polyester cord that run perpendicular to the tire's tread. Essentially the sidewall encapsulates the internal padding of the tire. It also serves as an area on which the tire's manufacturer details and specifications are listed in the form of a coded serial number.

This is not a strong part of the tire so any damage to the sidewall needs to be attended to quickly.

What Can Cause Sidewall Damage?

There can be a number of causes for tire sidewall damage even though this section of the tire does not come into contact with the road surface itself. This part of the tire can still be at risk from sharp objects on the road such as glass and nails.

An old tire that should have been changed may also develop sidewall damage as can a tire that does not have enough air pressure. Below we will list a few potential causes of a damaged tire sidewall.

• Contact with the curb while driving
• Under inflated tire
• Deep potholes
• Sharp objects on the road surface
• A worn tire
• An overloaded vehicle exceeding tire load specs
• Manufacturing defects

Recognizing Tire Sidewall Damage

Some tire sidewall damage is very obvious and other signs can be easily missed. A nail for example sticking out of the sidewall is painfully obvious. Other more subtle signs might be a bubble or a deep scratch/crack in the rubber of the sidewall.

Bubbles and scratches can occur if the side wall rubs against the curb while you are driving and of course punctures in the sidewall can occur from sharp sticks, nails, blass or any other sharp objects that may be on the road.

Can You Repair Tire Sidewall Damage?

So now to the bad news when it comes to repairing sidewall damage. It is almost impossible to safely repair a tire that has a damaged sidewall. Unlike the tread section of the tire you should never try to patch a puncture in the sidewall. It simply will not hold and will eventually fail.

If you have a split in the sidewall to the extent you can see the threads beneath this can not be repaired. The structural damage is already done and no amount of glue or adhesive will seal this satisfactorily. Equally a bubble in the sidewall can not be fixed either.

A shallow scratch could be potentially glued but it would have to be so shallow that you really don’t even need to do so. Basically speaking repairing tire sidewalls will not work and you will ultimately require a new tire.

How Much Damage Is Too Much for a Tire Sidewall?

The answer to this depends on what kind of damage has occurred to your tire's sidewall.

Puncture: If you have a puncture in your sidewall you can not patch it so it can not be fixed. You will need a new tire.

Bubble: If you have an air bubble on your tire sidewall you will need to get the whole tire replaced. This bubble can eventually burst and cause a tire blowout.

Scratch or Crack: A very shallow scratch will likely be fine but make sure to monitor it for any increase in size and depth. A deep scratch or crack that exposes the threads cannot be fixed so you will need to get a new tire.

Is it Safe to Drive With Tire Sidewall Damage?

As mentioned the tire sidewall is one of the weakest parts of the tire; it is far less robust than the tire tread. If you have a damaged tire sidewall you should avoid driving on it unless you are making a short trip to have the whole tire replaced.

Damage to the tire sidewall can quickly escalate to a blown out tire and at speed a tire letting go on you can be not only terrifying but also very dangerous. So avoid driving on a damaged tire sidewall.

Can You Replace Just the Damaged Tire?

New tires are not cheap, especially these days so understandably you might wonder if changing just one tire will be enough. Well if it is one of the drive wheels you may need to change both. The reason for this is that the difference in tread depth between a new and a partially used tire can cause stress on the transmission.

You can get away with changing one tire out of the two non-drive wheels but if you have all-wheel drive then all four tires should be changed to keep things balanced and avoid differential or transmission stress.

Will Your Warranty Cover Tire Wall Damage?

As tires are not strictly speaking part of the car itself then they will not usually be part of the warranty coverage. It is considered self-inflicted damage and not a failure of the vehicle. There are however certain warranties that will cover it so make sure to read yours thoroughly to know your warranty benefits.

Conclusion

Tire sidewalls are the part of your tires that you really do not want any damage to happen to. They are important to the tire's structural integrity but are the most fragile part of the wheel. You can’t really repair a damaged tire sidewall in almost all cases you will need a replacement tire.

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