Scratches may appear on the sidewall of your tires. Minor scratches that don't penetrate the rubber are usually cosmetic. However, they may allow moisture and debris to enter, causing further damage. Monitor these scratched areas for any changes. If they are numerous and/or pronounced, you should have your tires examined by a professional.
A cut in the tire sidewall can be more or less deep. The severity of the cut will depend on this. However, it is difficult for a non-expert to assess its depth.
When your vehicle drives onto a kerb, either from the front or at an angle, it can cause a bulge on the sidewall of a tire. Manufacturing defects can also cause this. It looks like a bubble forming on the tire sidewall. It is probably one of the most alarming signals as it constitutes a real danger.
Pothole tire damage
Driving into a pothole can also cause a bulge on your tire sidewall. Try to avoid them when you see them on the road!
If you do hit a kerb or a pothole, you should have your tires checked to see if they have been damaged or not.
Sidewall cracks are a sign of tire aging and exposure to sun and ozone.
Another cause may be the cleaning of the sidewall of the tires. If you use chemicals to shine your tires, they may remove the protective agents and therefore expose your tires to cracking more quickly.
The appearance of cracks in the tire sidewall is a warning sign that the tire is nearing the end of its life and that you should prepare to change it. You can consult a professional for advice.
It's normal for radial tires to have slight deformations, which don't affect their performance. The sidewall of the tires is made up of different components, including plies (textile or metal). You might notice a slight deformation where the plies overlap.
