23/07/2026
🥚 What's an "egg" in a tyre... and why isn't it covered under warranty?
It's one of the questions we get asked the most.
A customer comes in with a bubble on the sidewall and says, "The tyre's practically new! Surely it's faulty?"
In almost every case, the answer is no—and here's why.
A tyre isn't just a piece of thick rubber.
Hidden beneath the rubber are incredibly strong reinforcing cords made from materials like polyester, nylon and steel. These cords are the tyre's backbone. They support the weight of your vehicle, help it keep its shape and allow it to safely cope with the forces of braking, cornering and driving.
When you hit a pothole, clip a kerb or strike something hard on the road, the tyre can be crushed between the obstacle and the wheel rim.
The rubber is designed to flex and often springs back into shape...
But the reinforcing cords inside don't always survive the impact.
If those cords snap or tear, they leave a weak spot in the tyre's structure.
Your tyre is still holding around 35 psi of air pressure, and that pressure is constantly pushing against the inside of the tyre. Without the reinforcing cords to hold everything together, the pressure forces the rubber outward, creating the bulge—or what most people call an "egg."
🥚 The bubble isn't extra air trapped inside the tyre.
It's your normal tyre pressure pushing against a section where the internal structure has failed.
⚠️ Can it be repaired?
Unfortunately, no.
Once those internal cords are damaged, the tyre has lost its structural integrity. Even if there's plenty of tread remaining, the tyre is no longer safe to use and must be replaced.
Why isn't it covered under warranty?
Tyre manufacturers warranty their tyres against manufacturing defects—things like faults in the materials or the way the tyre was built.
A sidewall bulge is almost always the result of an external impact, such as:
• Hitting a pothole
• Clipping a kerb
• Striking road debris
• Driving on a significantly underinflated tyre, making it more susceptible to impact damage
This is classified as road hazard damage, not a manufacturing fault.
Think of it like dropping your phone. If the screen cracks after you drop it, it doesn't mean the phone was built incorrectly—it means it suffered accidental damage. The same principle applies to tyres.
If you're ever unsure whether a tyre is safe, don't take the risk.
Pop into Radke's Tyre & Auto and we'll happily inspect it for you.
❤️ Your tyres are the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road. Looking after them means looking after everyone inside it.
