Set of Potenza REO50A PPs (225/45/17) that I purchased in 4/2006, the damage occured in the fall of 2007, so two summer seasons of use (currently still using my winter tires since I put off dealing with this last year!)

Anyway, I noticed that the front passenger side tire had a slow leak but there was no visible damage or objects in the tread, so I topped it off once a week and reminded myself to check that out, while I did my normal around-town driving. Then I had to drive to the airport, about 100 miles away, and once I was at highway speeds it was clear that something was wrong, there were sounds and I could feel vibration, so I pulled over a few times to look at the tire and kick it and check the air pressure, but I couldn't find a problem! Finally about halfway there I was too stressed by it, so I pulled off the highway to change the wheel out. Good thing too! Turns out the inner sidewall where I couldn't see it looked like it was about to rupture :eek::eek:

Anyway, I'm posting the pics to see if anyone has ever seen this? There is one giant bubble and 2 or 3 smaller bulges, all on the inside sidewall. The tire is mounted properly! I'd like to see if this is a warranty issue, but I need to take it to a Bridgestone dealer and have them dismount and inspect the inside of the sidewall, I guess? Is there any way this could be caused by "impact" which is the determination that would deny me a warranty replacement? I just don't see how that's possible! pics link to the full set of shots.
1)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2186/2512350560_60f46787e9.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleuquila/sets/72157605184422615/)

2)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2511519819_939d906e40.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleuquila/sets/72157605184422615/)

3)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2512350020_0e3437a946_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleuquila/sets/72157605184422615/)

4)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2511520273_0b9542347c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleuquila/sets/72157605184422615/)

5)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2511519995_2f78952d27.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleuquila/sets/72157605184422615/)
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that is an impact damage and air is leaking out of the inner liner and being trapped inbetween the casing plys ... it will fail .. just a matter of time ... you need to replace it
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well, of course I need to replace it I'm certainly not driving on it o_0

So, you're saying that I could have clipped a pothole or whatever somewhere, and yet the air leak could be causing the the bubbles multiple other places? that's irritating.
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yep ... you hit something which damaged the inner liner of the tire which is the part of the tire designed to hold air
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I clicked this thread because I laughed at asplosion, but something similar happened to mine as well. I did the fill the tire every week thing and right before swapping my winter tires on I made a relatively long trip to the girlfriend's family's house for thanksgiving. Needless to say, on the way home is when the tire finally died. I'm sure this helps very little, but as previously stated, I believe the initial cause was impact related.
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I had a similar sidewall bulge in my Dunlop Wintersport M3s from hitting a pothole. It was a pretty big hit, I knew right away it damages my tire, came close to bending the lip of my rim.
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yeah, when the nice tech at firestone popped the tire off he showed me where the damage happened! It wasn't an impact, it was run flat, and so there was a crease that leaked air so I guess I musta messed it up the first time the tire went flat before I realized there was a slow leak and kept it topped off. Oh well! Also the tread measured at 6/32" which is a fail. Trying to decide if I want to get one shaved or 4 new ones ... but I guess these still have a decent amount of life left in them.
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