California DMV Permit Test (Class C)Vehicle Operation and MaintenanceHard
While performing a pre-trip inspection, you notice a significant bulge on the sidewall of one of your tires. What should be your immediate course of action?
- AInflate the tire to the maximum recommended pressure to even out the bulge.
- BContinue your trip cautiously, monitoring the bulge for changes.
- CImmediately replace the tire with your spare or have it professionally inspected.
- DDrive to the nearest gas station to have the tire repaired with a patch.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Immediately replace the tire with your spare or have it professionally inspected.
A sidewall bulge indicates internal damage, often a broken cord, which severely weakens the tire's structure. This condition poses a high risk of catastrophic tire failure (blowout) and should be addressed immediately by replacement or professional inspection, not repair.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Over-inflating a damaged tire will exacerbate the problem and increase the risk of a blowout.
- B. Continuing to drive on a tire with a sidewall bulge is extremely dangerous due to the high risk of sudden failure.
- D. Sidewall damage, especially a bulge, cannot be safely repaired with a patch; it requires tire replacement. Driving to a station for an unsafe repair is ill-advised.
Tire Sidewall Bulge
A visible protrusion on the side of a tire, indicating internal damage to the tire's structure, often a broken cord.
- Extremely dangerous, high risk of blowout.
- Requires immediate replacement, not repair.
- Often caused by impacts (potholes, curbs) or manufacturing defects.
Memory trick: Tires Tell Tales: Tread, Pressure, Pinch, Puncture.