VW Golf 2.0 TD ...bulging goodyear tyres

[Rainer]

All four tyres on my 02/2007 Golf TDI 2.0, Comfortline display a distinct, outwards shaped bulge to varying degree. Just wondering if anyone else has seen this on their cars. I had a puncture, and the tyre repair bloke noticed it and pointed it out to me. He wasn't really pushing me for new tyres, but said for me to show it to VW when my car goes into 15k service next week.

• I haven't hit any kerbs

UPDATE 16 February: Enquiry placed with Goodyear Customer Service ...what happened next

I e-mailed customer service stating the issues with the tyres, and images attached. Got a phone call the following day. Very friendly and helpful, advising me to have car inspected and evaluated at local Beaurepaires by manager. He then rang customer service in my presence , explaining 'heavy splicing' to be the issue. (apparently not too uncommon to be seen on imported tyres, but not an issue from roadsafety point of view) The response from service was to have all 4 tyres replaced
under guarantee, minus the rubber used (2mm in 15000km in my case, $40per tyre) I agreed, as I did some research on the tyres, finding that they are quite good according to tests conducted in Germany's main Test Magazine and the german automobile club. You can read it here, press on the left hand column'14 Produkte im Test' to see the tyres compared against. http://www.testberichte.de/test/prod...4t_p11149.html
thanks for all replies ...I'll make sure the next lot hasn't got bulges

[Logzy]

It looks like a kerb has been hit but i know you said you havent so..

Could be a defective tyre but its strange that it's evident on all 4 tyres.

What pressures do you run the tyres at.?
What is the load rating for these tyres.? Is it correct for the car.?

Very strange.

[JP-009]

I had the exact same thing happen to the left rear and front right OEM tyres (same as yours).

I hadn't hit any gutters either (but can't vouch for the missus), maybe pot-holes?

[deek]

I had good year on a car about 18 years ago. I had the same thing and got a rep out from goodyear. The steel belts had separated. They were replaced
Deek

[Mischa]

I had the exact same thing happen to the left rear and front right OEM tyres (same as yours).

I hadn't hit any gutters either (but can't vouch for the missus), maybe pot-holes?

same happened on my comfortline. peice of **** tyres if you ask me. i had to pay for replacements too even though the tyres were clearly defective and i hadnt hit any curbs.

[kaikor]

same thing happen to my civic 15 years ago, I swear no matter what i'll never ever use goodyear tyres inmy life again ...

[Rainer]

bulging tyre pressure

It looks like a kerb has been hit but i know you said you havent so..

Could be a defective tyre but its strange that it's evident on all 4 tyres.

What pressures do you run the tyres at.?
What is the load rating for these tyres.? Is it correct for the car.?

Very strange.

I use 240 kpa. The bulge is mirrored on the opposite, inner side of the tyre (4). My wife doesn't drive the Golf ...she prefers her Polo, which uses a different brand of tyres and hasn't got this issue.

[Logzy]

I think you could up the pressure a tad, to 38 psi (ie 85% of sidewall maximum). But 240 psi is not too low and is far better than the 32 psi that VW recommends.

If not a curb, I'd suspect impact with a pothole, because it is unlikely that 4 tyres would each have a hernia due to an internal fault.

Cheers

Victor

A pot hole sounds like the most likley story especially when running a lower pressure. A decent enough pot hole would effectivly "pinch" the tyre sidewall between the rim and the edge of the pot hole.

I'd be running the tyres at 38psi.
I currently have a VXII Clubsport and run the 18's at 40-41 psi

[85Fuego]

Dec 05 Reg 2L TDI comfortline.

Same problem - 43K tyres have HEAPS of life left.

No curb hits!

Thing is they sounded whiney on the rear, now that the dealer rotated them to the front, they sound bearing grumbly.

The reports here indicate that this batch of tyres are defective, but, how do you get them exchanged?

Not covered under VW warranty & since they're made in 'sudafrika' goodyear probably will say - go talk to VW?

Thoughts?

David

[pinzvidz]

Not covered under VW warranty & since they're made in 'sudafrika' goodyear probably will say - go talk to VW?

VW don't handle tyre warranty (nearly all vehicle manufacturers don't). Ring Goodyear or whoever manufactured the tyres and go from there...

[Bazzamon]

Tyre bulge no problem

In my experience I have had this happen to a variety of brands of tyes. As far as I concerned you have nothing to worry about. By the way NO gutter hitting from this boy. My last car had Dunlops fitted & they had a similar minor bulge on all four tyres. Happy Motoring.

[Mischa]

VW don't handle tyre warranty (nearly all vehicle manufacturers don't). Ring Goodyear or whoever manufactured the tyres and go from there...

when i took it up with goodyear about a yr ago they said the only way they would pay for the replacement is if the bulge is on both sides which means they're defective tyres. if its only one side they claim impact damage.

[OzBoz]

when i took it up with goodyear about a yr ago they said the only way they would pay for the replacement is if the bulge is on both sides which means they're defective tyres. if its only one side they claim impact damage.

The photos you posted look very like separation damage, where the layers have become separated and pressurised air is getting between the layers. It certainly can be caused by kerb damage, but on all four wheels? No way. It's not uncommon for whole batches of tyres to come out of the factory like that. I once had a set of tyres (Goodyear) replace 3 times due to this, and the problem was not sloved until a brand new batch was used.

It is not good to drive with tyres in this condition, as depending how bad the bulges are, the wheel can be thrown out of balance and cause abnormal tyre ware. I have my doubts also, as to whether it would pass a roadworthy.

Try and get an independent opinion, and hit Goodyear with that. Ask them to explain how this is affecting all four tyres.

Cheers

Brian

[LookOut]

Being all 4 tyres, you would have to think the problem is in the tyre, rather than anything that you have done to it.

I lost a tyre due to slamming into a pot hole. Buckled the rim slightly too. Ouch. Tell you what, those SportContact2 tyres are not frikkin cheap.

[OzBoz]

From a UK tyre company's website.

When should my tyres be replaced?
The legal limit for the tread of the tyre is 1.6mm across ¾ of the tread pattern. Your tyre should be replaced if any of the following defects are visible:

If the tread is less that 1.6mm.
If the tyre has any bald patches.
If the internal construction of the tyres is visible.
If the sidewall of the tyre bulges anywhere.
If the tyre is split.
If the tyre has extensive cracking or the rubber is perishing, (usually on older tyres.)
If the tyre is not the same size as the one on other side of the axle.

Going by the above, I would venture to say that you vehicle would not pass a roadworthy, and could be put off the road anytime a sharp eyed cop spotted it in the shopping centre carpark.

Take it up again with Goodyear, and make it plain to them that you don't accept their assessment of the situation, and given the age of the car/tyres, you will take it up with Consummer Affairs.

That is almost definitely a side wall separation problem caused by faulty manufacture.

Cheers

Brian