Is it possible to ride a lateral hernia on a wheel?

How to remove a hernia on a car wheel and why it is dangerous

Cord threads are the basis of the tire's power frame. When the reinforcing component ruptures, an oblong or round bulge appears on the side surface of the tire, and sometimes on its tread, which is called a “hernia.”

At first, the defect is barely noticeable, but under the influence of internal pressure it becomes larger. As a result, the tire pressure drops in proportion to the size of the problem, creating the risk of tread separation and tire explosion while driving at high speed.

What can cause a hernia to appear on a wheel?

The cause of the defect may be a manufacturing defect if, during the manufacture of the tire, an air bubble accumulated between the rubber and the cord fabric during vulcanization or a distance was allowed between the threads that exceeded their thickness.

In such cases, the hernia becomes noticeable after installing a new tire or shows itself during the first 12 months of use.

The reason for the appearance of a defect is the actions of the driver and external circumstances:

hitting a curb slab;
a wheel falling into a hole while driving at high speed;
rubbing against the curb, sliding contact of the side surface of the tire with a hard object;
driving on the railway track;
violation of manufacturer’s parameters regarding maximum speed and load norm;
hitting a wheel during an accident;
a cut on the side surface by an edge of ice, damage to it by a sharp corner of a stone or a metal object.

The prerequisites for the formation of a hernia are created by violations committed during the installation of tires.

For example, installation on a disk for tubeless tires, deformation of the bead ring during work, use of non-standard tools or equipment during installation.

Is it possible to drive with such a defect?

Experts compare a hernia to a time bomb. What are the dangers of a bulging tire?

Wheel imbalance. A runout appears, which breaks the bearing and negatively affects the suspension silent blocks, shock absorbers, and ball joints. A flawed front wheel causes damage to the steering components due to runout.
Increase in size of the defect. The hernia grows as a result of rupture of the cord threads under the influence of the internal pressure in the tire, driving speed, vehicle load, or driving on a bad road.
A sudden accident. Even a slight bulge indicates that the tire has lost a sufficient level of strength. During acceleration, driving at high speed, sudden braking, or a wheel falling into a hole, the tire may burst.

Driving a car with a defective wheel is dangerous. If a herniation is found on the tire, then it is best to remove the damaged wheel and install a spare one.

If it is not possible to replace it, it is worth slightly reducing the pressure in the wheel and moving it to the rear axle in order to improve the controllability of the car in the event of a tire break. You need to continue the journey at a slow speed and have the wheel replaced or repaired at a tire shop.

Options for repairing bumps on the wheel

The answer to the question whether a hernia can be repaired depends on the location of the defect and its size. If the tire bulge is located closer to the bead than 40 mm or is large in size, then the tire is considered unrepairable .

To troubleshoot other problems, use 3 methods.

Install the patch. A reinforced rubber patch or patch is glued by vulcanization to the damaged area from the inside of the tire.
Reduces pressure on the problem area. To do this, place a tube inside the tire or lay a piece of thick rubber.
Perform a screed. The edges of the defect are tightened with nylon threads, then the area is vulcanized using raw rubber.

A more reliable option for eliminating the “bump” is to install a reinforced patch, but it, like other methods, does not restore the previous level of strength and reliability of the tire. They can only be considered as a temporary measure.

How to operate a car after repairing a wheel herniation

After restoration work, you need to move the wheel with the repaired tire to the rear axle, perform balancing, and follow several rules while operating the car:

maintain tire pressure slightly below normal;
avoid potholes and bad sections of roads;
avoid sudden braking, acceleration, and wheel impacts;
drive at a speed that, if a tire breaks, will provide the opportunity to quickly react to the situation and stop the car;
load the vehicle below the permissible limit;
Inspect the wheel regularly. If a tendency towards an increase in the defect is detected, take decisive action.

If the recommendations are followed, the functionality of the tire after repair is maintained for some time. On the other hand, the lack of guarantees and the high cost of a high-quality patch reduces the practical benefits of this solution to the problem.

It's often easier to purchase a used wheel to replace a damaged one and then look at new tires with high sidewalls. Compared to low-profile modifications, they are cheaper, handle road irregularities more effectively and break through less often.

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What to do with a hernia on the wheel

During the operation of a car, its wheels receive various damages - side cuts appear on the tires, tire deformation (the so-called hernia).

1 Causes of hernia on the wheel
2 Is it possible to drive with a hernia on a wheel?
3 What to do if there is a hernia on the wheel
4 How professional tire fitters fix a hernia
5 Rules for driver behavior when a hernia is detected on a wheel
6 Wheel selection

Motorists often ask if there is a lump on the wheel, what to do, and whether it is possible to operate the car with it. In this article we will try to deal with this issue, and at the same time we will advise how to eliminate the defect.

Causes of hernia on the wheel

A bump on the side surface of a tire is formed as a result of the destruction of the inner cord; automobile rubber itself is multilayer. A hernia (bump) on a tire can form for various reasons; the cord threads usually break:

with a side cut of the tire;
when a car falls into a deep road hole, when the vehicle is moving at a sufficiently high speed;
as a result of abrasion of the tread, for example, on a curb;
from a blow to the wheel, for example, when a car gets into an accident.

Is it possible to drive with a hernia on a wheel?

When the cord on a tire is damaged by an impact, the threads inside break and a bump appears on the wheel. Usually the lump on the wheel comes out from the side; it mainly forms on the outside. A hernia comes in different sizes, and if it is small, it may not even be noticed at first. If a bump has appeared on a car tire and increased in size, when the car is moving, a beating may be felt, which can be felt in the steering wheel.

Is it possible to drive with a bump on the wheel? It all depends on the size of the damage, but if you approach this issue strictly, it is extremely undesirable to operate a car with damaged tires, even if the defect is minor. The thing is that during the operation of the vehicle, the damaged area on the wheel progresses and increases in size, and in some cases the tire may explode, and the driver may get into an emergency. A tire with a lateral hernia bursts in the following cases:

if the damaged wheel gets into the hole again;
at high speed when driving on uneven roads;
on a loaded car (for example, there are several passengers in the cabin and there is a heavy load in the trunk);
at high speed;
when you press the brake pedal sharply.

Manufacturers of car tires warn that the use of tires with any damage is prohibited, regardless of the degree of the defect.

The driver can feel the appearance of a bump on the tire by the first signs - there may not be an imbalance, but barely noticeable bumps begin to appear in the wheel, and the ride becomes uncomfortable. If the car owner nevertheless decides to continue to operate the car, he must regularly check the condition of the wheel and carry out an external inspection.

What to do if there is a hernia on the wheel

When a defect appears on a car tire in the form of a bump, theoretically the driver has three options:

completely replace the wheel (install a spare tire);
go to a tire repair shop to have the defect repaired;
try to repair the tire yourself.

The third option is only theoretically possible, and then only if the driver himself is almost a professional tire fitter. The most reliable option is to change the entire wheel or install a new tire on the rim.

How professional tire fitters fix a hernia

Repairing a tire in a tire shop looks something like this:

the wheel is removed and disassembled;
the surface of the tire is thoroughly cleaned and degreased;
a layer of material containing raw rubber is applied to the damaged area;
a reinforced patch is installed on top of the damage;
vulcanize the tire.

It is possible to remove a bump on a tire in this way, but it should be taken into account that the inner cord is still not completely restored, and the repaired area on the tire remains the most vulnerable spot. After repairing a tire, it must be balanced, but if the wheel cannot be balanced, it has to be scrapped.

To restore a tire using a vulcanizer, it must be left in a tire shop for a day, which is very inconvenient for the driver. Even when restoring a wheel with a hernia, you should take into account that such repairs are quite expensive, and in some cases they are comparable to the price of a new tire. You can understand the car owner - sometimes a hernia appears on almost new tires, and the driver regrets the money spent on the purchase. But road safety is no joke - it’s better to lose money than a car, your health or even your life.

Rules of conduct for a driver when a hernia is detected on a wheel

Various situations arise on the road, and it happens that the driver discovers a defect in the tire, but he needs to drive further, and there is no opportunity to buy new tires. In this situation, there are certain rules that should be followed:

if the spare wheel also has a bump, all wheels with hernias must be placed only on the rear axle; tires must be installed on the front without the slightest damage;
installing a tube in a tubeless tire will not help, although many drivers consider such repairs to be a way out of the situation. The rubber bladder is thin and cannot withstand high pressure and can break at any moment;
if the driver discovers a hernia on a wheel, the car should be driven at low speed, try to avoid bumps and potholes, and slow down on sharp turns;
During a trip, it is necessary to regularly check the condition of the wheel, and if you come across a tire repair shop or service station along the way, you should contact a car repair shop for repairs.

If you bought a set of tires recently and the tread has slight wear, you can take the damaged wheel to a tire shop for restoration. But the repaired tire should only be used as a spare tire; it should be placed on the rear axle of the car if necessary.

It is not practical to remove a bump on a wheel if the tread on all the tires is worn out. In this case, repairs are a waste of money; it is better to spend the money on purchasing new tires.

Wheel selection

If a hernia appears on one tire, you need to replace it by purchasing new tires. But the problem is that stores usually don’t sell one wheel at a time, and purchasing a single tire with the required tread is problematic. It is especially difficult to purchase tires in the off-season - in the spring they no longer sell winter tires, and in late autumn it is difficult to buy summer wheels.

Usually sellers sell pairs of tires, and in this case you have to agree to buy two tires. As an option, you can look for tires at car wreckers or through advertisements, but finding wheels with the required tread is quite difficult.

Often private owners sell used tires in very good condition, for example, the wheels were left over after the car was sold. If you have problems choosing a tread pattern, you can buy four tires, but it is better to buy five tires at once, in which case the spare tire will have the same tread. It is also important that on the same axle (front or rear) there are wheels of the same size, design and model.

A hernia on a wheel - is it possible to drive? Wheel hernia repair

Many car owners do not drive on the roads very carefully. The roads are not always good. Sometimes such driving can lead to various deformations of the cord in a car tire. After this, a so-called hernia will appear on the side. Many people wonder whether it is possible to ride on a wheel with a hernia. And if not, then how to repair the tire and whether it is worth repairing.

Even if rubber has high strength, it has a certain resource. If the tires have already seen a lot, then it is not recommended to drive them on bad asphalt at high speeds. This can sooner or later lead to dire consequences. These consequences can also be unpredictable, and especially when problems appear with the front axle of the car.

At the earliest stage of its development, this problem is hidden and remains unnoticeable and invisible to the eye for a long time.

But sometimes it is felt. The fact that there is a defect may be indicated by rhythmic vibration and swaying of the body at low speeds. If such symptoms exist, then it is recommended to lift the car and rotate the wheel with your hands. This method will help you visually see defects.

When and why do hernias form?

Blisters on the sides of the tire can occur due to the rupture of synthetic threads, which act as one of the layers of the tire. Rubber, in turn, if it has not yet torn, tends to stretch under pressure. The air looks for weak points to escape.

There is no point in thinking for a long time about why a hernia appeared on the wheel, or what to do in this difficult situation. This is a weak point in the tire, and it has already shown itself. Now it is necessary to solve this problem as quickly as possible, otherwise new problems of the same nature will begin to form. And a hernia (or a lump, you can call it whatever you want) is not always stable. It can increase, and the intensity of its growth is completely different. More often the defect grows at a very high speed.

Typical reasons for the formation of tires on rubber

Among the most popular causes of this annoying problem is driving through potholes. Also, the hernia will grow if the driver unsuccessfully parked close to the edge of the curb.

In fact, under the influence of the large mass of the car at high speeds, the tire hits an obstacle. The corner immediately cuts into the surface of the slope. If the rubber does not break immediately, but withstands such executions, then the cord inside will definitely break.

Less common is the initial defect of a tire due to a violation of manufacturing technology at the enterprise. Sometimes tires can get cut. In the event of an accident with strong impacts, such a nuisance is also possible.

It happens that the tire is partially erased on the side surface.

Again, this could be due to a sharp blow. And if the load is large, then the side surface literally rubs against a hard object, which acts as an abrasive.

One should not exclude completely harmless situations when the owner does not maintain the required level of pressure in the tire. Often tires with lower pressure are most vulnerable to this problem. As you can see, the reasons can be completely different, but the result is always the same.

Hernia on a wheel - is it possible to drive?

Experts do not recommend driving for a long time with hernias of any size on wheels. And if at low speeds this does not lead to dire consequences, then when driving at high speeds it is dangerous.

The most common and popular wheel and rubber problems are swelling of various sizes on the front wheels. Before you start repairing a hernia on a wheel, it is worth knowing that the most problematic bulges are small formations from 10 to 20 mm.

The beating that will inevitably occur in this situation, as well as wheel imbalance, can even lead to an accident. The most negative situation can occur if the wheel is installed on the front axle. A car whose front tire has burst is uncontrollable.

The driver can feel these beats even through the steering wheel. In addition to dangerous situations, driving with a so-called hernia for a long period of time will lead to premature and accelerated wear of the wheel bearings and loosening of the suspension.

When the car is in motion, the rubber heats up.

This can lead to overheating, which means that if there is already a small hernia on the wheel, then after that it will begin to grow. If you try to apply the brakes in this situation, the result will lead to a tire rupture at its weak point. Falling into a hole even at low speed can also lead to this.

Actions to take

It is very good when the car owner is responsible and always has a spare tire ready for use. If there is a herniation on the wheel, it is recommended to replace it immediately. If there is empty space in the trunk instead of a spare wheel, then the bumps must be removed to the rear axle. You can continue driving, but you need to stop periodically and check the condition of the damage.

In addition, it is not always possible to correct this problem.

Only specialists in a tire workshop can judge this, and the decision is made on an individual basis.

So, if there is a hernia on the wheel, is it possible to drive? It is allowed, but very carefully and not for long. If the car is loaded to capacity, it is recommended to reduce the weight. Passengers can always be transferred to a bus or minibus.

Repair and restoration technologies

If the damage is minor, you can use internal patches. But this is only relevant for expensive stingrays. Naturally, this procedure does not provide the maximum guarantee, but the service life of the wheel can be increased in this way.

Any tire restoration, and even more so repairing a hernia on a wheel, begins with cleaning the surface and then degreasing it. After this, it is necessary to apply a vulcanizing compound that contains raw rubber. Next, a patch is installed, and then the whole thing is vulcanized.

This event will make the damaged area somewhat stronger, but the damaged threads, alas, will not be restored. The strength characteristics will not reach those that were before the hernia.

Even the most effective way to remove a hernia from a wheel is only a temporary solution.

In some cases, you can install a camera into the tire. But this also will not give the necessary maximum strength to the wheel. After each option, balancing should be performed.

Prevention education

In order not to think about how to remove a hernia from a wheel, you should think in advance that this problem takes place in the life of a motorist. Everyone knows that the modern market offers a variety of products.

Some of them have higher reliability and resistance to various types of damage. Others can burst literally from the slightest load. To avoid these and other “rubber” problems, experts recommend choosing the right tire.

Right choice

Among all the products that have maximum resistance to deformation, there will definitely be those whose load weight is extremely increased. When choosing tires for your car, you should pay attention to the load index in the documentation.

The higher it is, the less likely it is that a hernia will come out on the wheel. Is it possible to drive on such tires in pits? Not worth it. The most common marking for this type of car tire is XL. Reliability will be expensive, but the price is fully compensated by the long service life.

If you purchase used tires, then the first thing you should pay attention to is the deformations and bumps, and only then - the general condition of the tire. If it is not inflated, it is almost impossible to see the bump. And one more thing - any problems with the car arise only from fast and careless driving.

So, if there is a hernia on the wheel, is it possible to drive? From everything it follows that it is possible, but not for long and carefully.

Tire hernia repair

Reading time: 6 minutes

Not all car tires are manufactured in accordance with quality assurance requirements and have the necessary certificates. In such cases, the thickness of the rubber layer may be uneven, and some part of it will wear out faster. Because of this, under the air pressure inside the wheel, this area undergoes deformation - a hernia occurs on the tire. Also, similar cases occur when the wheel is unbalanced or the alignment of the suspension is faulty. Regardless of the reasons, this problem signals danger during further operation of the vehicle.

What is a hernia on the wheel

A wheel hernia is the result of swelling of the tire rubber under the air pressure inside it. It occurs when one or more layers, most often located on the lateral surface, are damaged, which leads to weakening of this area and stronger stretching.

Hernia on the wheel

Hernia on a wheel: is it possible to drive and how safe is it to use?

Due to violations of operating rules, a tire rupture occurs, which is facilitated by the following factors:

The first thing to avoid is driving over bumps and potholes, since with each impact the tire is subjected to a sharp surge in pressure from the inside, which leads to increased wear.
The weather is too hot, as heating the rubber leads to its softening, which significantly weakens it and exposes it to rupture.
On the contrary, cold weather with extreme temperatures, regardless of the composition of the rubber material, greatly affects its brittleness, and it is easier for the fibers to break under stress.
Lastly, any long or too fast driving increases the friction force and, accordingly, heat, which can also cause an accident.

The process of repairing a wheel with a hernia

A professional, having received a wheel with a similar defect for work, during its restoration follows the algorithm below:

He dismantles the wheel, washes it and carefully examines it for the presence of deformations, which can be both on the external side, visible to the eye of the car owner, and on the internal side.
Next, the technician removes the rubber from the rim, having previously marked the areas with defects with a marker or chalk.
The damaged area must be carefully removed using a special rubber knife and scissors.
From a whole tire, craftsmen prepare in advance rubber reinforced flaps, which later become patches for such cases. The most popular material donors are tires discarded by owners after mechanical damage rather than wear.
All edges of the hole resulting from cutting must be processed with a special rotary machine with abrasive in order to get to the inside of the multi-layer coating of the product.
To work with such defects, the craftsman must have a special substance on hand - rolled raw rubber, with which they fill the defect by gluing it over the entire area of the hole.

Wheel with hernia after repair

After the adhesion of the raw rubber is completed, the master sends the wheel to a special autoclave, where it is exposed to elevated temperatures and the raw material undergoes a change in chemical properties, called vulcanization.
After vulcanization, the rubber is removed from the oven and waits for it to cool. As a result of the procedure, a smooth monolithic black surface is visually obtained, which can be used as a basis for gluing a patch.
The entire area of the rubber patches, both on the outer and inner sides of the tire, is thoroughly cleaned and degreased with special liquids.
In the last step, the master carefully and sequentially glues 2 identical pieces of rubber on both sides of the tire, carefully rolling them out with special pressure rollers, and taps them with hammers.
Upon completion of the entire operation, the treated part of the wheel should be pressed for some time using a clamp.

How to Remove a Small Radial Bump on a Rear Tire

There is a bump on the side of the wheel, what should I do?

First you need to stop and inspect the tire for the danger of this defect for further operation of the vehicle. In order to soberly assess the situation, the driver should simply press on the hernia, and if it is hard enough, then the car owner has the opportunity to drive to a tire shop and change the wheel.
If the bump on the wheel is soft, further movement of the car is fraught with risk. The problem must be eliminated either by replacing the wheel with a spare wheel, or repairing a herniated tire right on the road.
The car must be jacked up, after which the wheel is removed and placed flat.
The car enthusiast should have a patch on hand, since without it the procedure is impossible.
The tire is completely relieved of pressure, but since it is not under load, the wheel will not deform under its own weight.
The cone is carefully cut out with a knife, and then the surface of the edges around it is carefully processed and degreased.
A patch of a suitable size is taken, after which both the tire itself and the rubber flap are treated with glue. If the material is not at hand, it is not possible to repair the product.
The flap is pressed against the splint and remains in this position for 30...60 minutes.
After the driver has managed to repair the product, pressure is applied to the tire, and the car enthusiast checks whether the wheel is leaking air.
If the patch turns out to be airtight, the driver will be able to ride the wheel several tens of kilometers to the nearest service station.

Tire rupture due to hernia

Operating a car after repairing a herniated tire

Even after repairing the hernia, the wheel still needs to be changed at the first successful opportunity, because it will no longer be able to maintain the specified pressure for a long time, and its behavior during further operation will be unpredictable. This means that even if after applying the patch the driver does not notice a loss of pressure in the wheel, he will almost certainly encounter the following problems:

Uneven distribution of masses in the wheel after repairing tire bumps, which will inevitably lead to imbalance while driving. For such cases, it is recommended to have the tire balanced at the nearest car service station, where technicians will try to balance the products using lead weights, taking control measurements on a special stand.
If the wheel hits the steering wheel too hard, the vibrations can damage the hubs, bearings, brake system, shock absorbers and ball joints. In addition, operation with such a defect often leads to a violation of the wheel alignment, uneven wear of the wheel and the friction component of the brake pads.
After the repair, the driver will not be able to drive quietly for long distances, since the wheel may become depressurized at any time due to a rupture or peeling off of the patch. So, every 10...15 kilometers he must stop, get out, conduct a visual inspection of the wheel and check the pressure in it using a pressure gauge on the compressor.

A hernia on a wheel is a real problem for the driver, which can never be completely solved with a simple repair, since complete restoration of the tire in such cases is simply impossible. Therefore, the best way out of this situation would be to have a full-size spare tire in your car.

*Prices are current as of December 2018.

How to drive with a hernia on a wheel? 4 useful tips on what to do on the road

Often, the driving style of our drivers can be safely called sloppy, which, combined with the dubious quality of domestic roads, creates the preconditions for deformation of the cord in the car tire. The appearance of a hernia in the lateral area is an expected consequence. If a hernia appears on a wheel, is it possible to continue driving or should urgent measures be taken?

In the context of automobile problems, a hernia is perceived as a swelling of rubber. Any rubber, even the most durable, has a limited service life. If we are talking about tires that are not the first freshness, it is better not to be reckless and try to avoid roads with potholes.

Otherwise, a hernia will form, the consequences of which can be very disastrous, since such defects negatively affect the car’s handling, and it is impossible to detect them immediately. In the case of the front wheels, the situation is most dangerous. If a hernia is found on a wheel, is it possible to continue driving and what mandatory recommendations must be followed?

You may be interested in a detailed article by our author, which is devoted to the selection and installation of tracks for the Niva.

We also recommend that you carefully study the material from a qualified specialist who talks about tracks for a passenger car.

How to recognize a hernia

Initially, as soon as a hernia appears, it is impossible to notice it visually, but the vehicle’s behavior on the road should alert you. At low speeds, the body will sway and the movement will be accompanied by rhythmic vibration. At 60 km/h you will also feel the steering wheel shake noticeably. The faster you drive, the more pronounced the vibrations will be, which will eventually be transferred to the body.

In such a situation, jack up the car and manually turn the wheel to improve your visibility and find the source of the problem.

You can detect even a small hernia using this diagnostic method. But not only this defect can cause vibrations at speed. If there is kickback in the steering wheel, but the tire is intact, there is most likely a problem with the balancing. You just need to visit the nearest tire shop, where specialists will restore the balance of the tire.

Mechanism of hernia

Having a general understanding of the structure of the splint, it will be easier for you to understand the mechanism of hernia formation. The structure of the tire is multi-layer and is represented by vulcanized rubber. As a reinforcing structure of the wheel, a cord is used, which acts as a layer between the rubber. In the manufacture of cord, synthetic threads intertwined are used.

A bulge or so-called hernia can result from the rupture of the mentioned threads, since they are perceived as one of the layers of the tire. Speaking of rubber, do not forget about its ability to stretch if it is not torn. The air is looking for weak spots to escape, and it finds them, but first a hernia is formed.

It is worth considering the following problematic situations that may affect the formation of defects on rubber.

Regular driving on roads of questionable quality with potholes and potholes.
The initial defect of a tire is an extremely rare occurrence, the reason for which is a violation of the technological process during its manufacture in production.
Poor parking along the curb. In the future, any collision with an obstacle can cause the tire to swell, since weak spots will appear as a result of friction during unsuccessful parking. As a result of a sharp impact, the defect often appears on the side.
Among the most harmless reasons at first glance is non-compliance with the optimal level of tire pressure (read about the optimal pressure in Gazelle tires in our author’s article). If the pressure is insufficient, heating of the tire becomes inevitable, which leads to the loss of the cord’s own structure and the formation of a bump in one of the areas. Overinflated wheels are also not the best option, since the weak point in such a situation is localized where there is excess distance between the threads.
An accident is also included in the list of reasons for the formation of defects on a wheel, especially when it is the tire that suffers from the impact. At the same time, damage affects the disk itself and the suspension arms. It is the angle and force of the impact that determine how bad the situation will be.

Is it safe to drive with a hernia?

A hernia belongs to the category of dangerous injuries that can cause serious consequences in the form of an accident due to loss of control. Due to the imbalance, a beating is felt at the moment of control, the hub bearings are destroyed, as are the shock absorbers, ball joints and the entire suspension as a whole. If you do not pay attention to the problem in time, you will have to repair the steering rod and rack.

The pressure will increase as you drive, causing the tire to heat up. These two phenomena are interconnected and dependent on each other; as a result, the hernia will increase and burst sooner or later. As a result of the explosion, the tire will immediately deflate, and the driver may not even have time to react, so an accident and skidding of the car is possible. The main risk factors are poor roads and high speed driving. Considering the fact that any obstacle can provoke a rupture, driving even with a small hernia on the wheel is out of the question.

What to do on the road

You are on the road, a herniation has suddenly appeared on your wheel, and you don’t know what to do. There is no spare tire, but you still have to drive to the nearest tire shop? Focus on basic recommendations that will help you avoid dangerous situations on the road. Ideally, of course, you need to install a spare tire, but if you are too brave and do without one, you will have to limit your speed to 80 km/h and drive extremely carefully and carefully.

In doing so, please observe the following rules.

Be sure to move the problem tire back. If the swelling ruptures while in front, the trajectory of the vehicle will be sharply disrupted, which will create the preconditions for an accident. The rear position of the problem wheel will allow you to maintain the trajectory to some extent.
Since a rotated tire may still blow out due to heat, lower the pressure slightly by 15%. You need to get to a tire shop at any cost. The tire will be able to soften the blow in the event of hitting a hole, and further growth of swelling will be stopped.
The movement should be as calm as possible and it’s not just about speed. Sharp braking is out of the question. Maintain an increased distance between the car in front so that you have time and space to maneuver in the event of a hernia rupture. Also, if there are holes in front, you will be able to determine in advance the most suitable trajectory of movement.
If your journey is lengthy and takes a lot of time, you can safely get to the service station using a camera installed inside the problem tire. It will be able to partially reduce the pressure on the deformed area. This measure is considered only a temporary relief from troubles.

Repair options

When you finally get to the tire shop, the technicians will conduct diagnostics and be able to choose the best way to repair the hernia on the tire. It is worth immediately understanding that even with successful repairs, you can forget about the previous reliability and strength of the wheel. The balance and shape of the tire will be questionable, since restoring synthetic cord fibers is an impossible task. In addition, large defective areas cannot be stopped at all.

So, two repair methods.

The use of nylon threads of increased thickness for stitching the side surface and subsequent vulcanization. It is permissible to continue using such a wheel solely as a temporary spare wheel.
Installing the patch. In this case, the vulcanization method is also used, and the problem area is pre-treated with a piece of reinforced or ordinary rubber.

You can learn about the rules by which tire side cuts should be repaired in the article by our specialist.

We also advise you to read the material, which explains in detail and correctly how to properly store tires in order to avoid various problems in the future.

Finally, it is worth saying a few words about preventive measures. The key to preventing tire bulges is to learn how to choose the right tires. In the documentation you can find such a parameter as the load index. It must be as high as possible to ensure a high level of reliability.

As for the possibility of driving further on a wheel with a herniation, this is completely excluded, unless we are talking about a situation with a missing spare tire. You can limit yourself to only a trip to the tire repair shop - at your own risk and risk, but at a limited speed and attentive driving.

Don't forget to move the tire to the rear wheel and deflate it by 15%.