Causes, signs and how to fix distorted car tires

What is a warped car tire?

Distorted car tires are a phenomenon where the outer layer of the tire is damaged, deformed, and no longer round as it was originally.

At this time, the steel wires that maintain the internal structure are broken or protrude through the edge of the tire tread, causing the air pressure inside to not meet the standards. Therefore, the tire is deformed, negatively affecting the operation of the car.

Signs of a warped car tire

Because the distortion of car tires is visible right on the outside of the tire, users can completely recognize it with the naked eye.

In addition, if the vehicle is moving at low speed, on a flat road surface, but the driver still feels the vehicle and steering wheel shaking; or when moving quickly, the tire feels like it is about to fall off, these are also signs of a distorted tire.

Finally, if during operation, the user hears an unusual noise coming from the tire part, it can be predicted that the tire is deformed, so when in contact with the road surface, it creates this unpleasant sound.

There are many reasons why car tires become warped. Photo: Nguyen Quynh

Causes of car tires distortion

In fact, there are many reasons that cause car tires to become distorted, the most common of which are: Foreign objects cutting across the outer shell, causing the steel wire inside to break, rust, or become damaged... causing the tire to not maintain a uniform shape and become distorted.

Due to collision with objects on the road such as hard debris, rocks or potholes, sidewalks, bumpy roads,...

Defects in the vehicle suspension system.

Uneven tire wear such as: side wear, center wear, heel wear, cup wear, etc. makes the tire run unstable and increasingly deformed.

Insufficient tire pressure, whether caused by over- or under-inflating the tires or by frequently overloading the car, can cause the tires to gradually become distorted over time. For example, leaving heavy items in the trunk for long periods of time can cause the rear tires to become distorted (especially if they are not heavy-duty tires). If a car is constantly driven with too much tire pressure, most of the load will be concentrated in the center of the tire, causing the center of the tire to wear out faster than the sidewalls. Conversely, if a car is constantly driven with too little tire pressure, the shoulder treads will wear out faster than the center treads.

Are deformed car tires dangerous?

First of all, users should understand the importance of round tires. Tires move by rolling and being round is the most efficient design to generate thrust for the car.

The round shape allows the vehicle to move much faster than any other shape. The round shape of the tire allows for even contact with the road, saving energy and providing safety. Round tires are also easier to inflate and cause less friction when moving, thus generating less heat.

If the tire does not maintain its round shape, it will lose its efficiency and even be dangerous to the user.

In general, car tires are a very important part, so if they are distorted, bulging, misaligned, worn unevenly, etc., they will have a negative impact and users need to quickly handle this situation.

How to fix a warped car tire

There is no way to fix a flat tire and the user will need to replace the tire with a new one.

New tires can be replaced using the following procedure:

Step 1: Lift the car up

First, place the jack at the lifting point near the wheel to be replaced so that the entire jack leg is on the ground. Next, install the jack head and lift the car until the wheel is lifted off the ground.

Step 2: Assemble the wheel

Unscrew the bolts and remove the deformed wheel. Then install the new wheel, re-screw the bolts and lower the vehicle to remove the jack.

Step 3: Check after replacement

Finally, the user tightens the bolts diagonally to the recommended torque of 250Nm and checks the tire pressure and adjusts if necessary.