Bulge in Tyre: V40

My 2002 V40 has a small bulge in the outer wall of a rear tyre -
probably from hitting a kerb. (The alloy wheel is scuffed - can this be
polished out?). I presume it is not safe and must be replaced. My front
tyres (now done 20,000 miles) are close to the end of their life. Can I
put them on the back for a few months more and buy good new ones now for
the front? Or is it 4 new tyres at one go?

 

Since you asked, here are my recommendations:

1. After you read this message go outside and swap the bulged wheel/tire
with the spare. Safety is #1 and that will make your car safer. If it blows
out while driving you will have more problems and expenses than a simple
tire replacement.

2. Go to a tyre place you know and like and have them move the front tyres
to the rear and buy new tires for the front. Have them spin balance all four
tyres.

3. Since the wheel is scraped the damage to the tyre is most likely
driver-related and not a manufacturing defect, so asking for a free
replacement is probably not going to be approved, unless specifically
spelled out in the tyre warranty. If, however, you bought a tyre warranty
then see if it covers driver-caused damage. Sometimes it does, sometime it
does not.

Happy driving.

 

Thank you - that was pretty much my plan. I don't think 2 1/2 year old
tyres are still under warranty - and I've never heard of buying a tyre
warranty here in the UK.

 

Why do you want the best tyres on the front? The best tyres should be
at the back (as per the Volvo manual). Under heavy wet braking the
rear becomes light and is more prone to aquaplaning - and hence a
spin.


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

 

Tim

The V40 id FWD and about 80% of braking effort comes from the front wheels
so why would Volvo recommend having ropey tyres on the front, surely the
fronts would have given up their adhesion is well worn long before the rears
break away under acquaplaining conditions?

Andy

 

Alloy wheels can be refinished to look like new. There are shops that
do this. If you can't find any, go to a good body shop, they know
where to go.

 

Michelin Tire has done some extensive testing about this, and they concluded
that the best tires should be at the rear as well. They tested a 1/2 worn
pair of tires and a new set. They found that when the worn pair was on the
front you may start to feel understeer come on faster in wet weather, but
the situation was controlable... With the good tires up front they put the
car into a turn and the rear end abruptly broke free and the car spun
around - without any early warning. Under heavy braking you are pressing
even more weight then normal onto the front wheels - this added pressure
alone should reduce front hydroplane... Plus I think Michelin, and Volvo
would know a little better then you or I - they have millions of dollars to
do R&D on their products, they must know how they work best.

-BTW I got the Michelin test article from a recent auto magazine.... either
Car and Driver or Road & Track (forget which one, might be on one of their
websites tho).