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Bulging front tyres affecting ride quality on my Maruti Swift

The issue now is that the car wobbles at medium and high speeds, the ride is not stable and I feel each and every bump on the road.

BHPian techspark recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a 2013 Swift VXi model, which has run 55k km. I had replaced its front tyres with a set from Bridgestone a year and a half back. Every time I look at the tyre with the naked eye it feels like the tyre pressure is low and they are bulging at the bottom. I always check the pressure and it comes out to be normal (around 32 psi) and I have shown this to a couple of mechanics and the tyre shop I got it from - they all tell me it's normal, but I see so many other cars on the road and their front tyres don't bulge like this.

The issue now is that the car wobbles at medium and high speeds, the ride is not stable and I feel each and every bump on the road. Are the front tyres to be blamed for this? There is no vibration on the steering though

Last week, I got wheel alignment, wheel balancing done and also changed the complete front struts, link rod and even the rear shockers as well from MASS, but there is hardly any difference in ride quality. The clutch and brake calipers were also replaced.

Now, I am not sure what to do next to improve the quality of the ride? I have already spent Rs 40k plus on the suspension and clutch overhaul. The rear tyres are stock OEM JK tyres and I am planning to change them tomorrow - but can just the rear tyres be the culprit or is there anything I am missing and need to do, to get the car stable again?

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated, many thanks!

Here's what BHPian gischethans had to say on the matter:

The tyre bulge at the bottom is actually normal and a characteristic of radial tyres. I must admit, even I get the doubt of tyre being low on the pressure but that is not the case.

I was about to suggest wheel balancing/alignment but since you have done all of it and even more, perhaps you could try driving another Swift and see if they all feel the same. Has the car been with you all the time or are you new to cars? Just wondering if this was a pre-owned vehicle, would there be something amiss with the structural integrity?

Here's what BHPian govigov had to say on the matter:

If that is an 8 year old JK Tornado, then look no further, that should be the culprit. Also, newer tires should go in the back. Since you already have newer Bridgestone's in the front, suffice to say, to get your new tire installed in the rear.

Here's what BHPian sagarpadaki had to say on the matter:

You have two different issues - Bulge at the bottom of the front tyre and Bumpy ride quality over undulations.

First thing about the bulge. Do not worry over it. It depends on the sidewall strength of the tyre and various other tyre construction parameters. As long as you maintain the right tyre pressure you should be fine. Just ignore the bulge thing.

Regarding bad ride quality, you have changes all the suspension components that affect the ride quality - strut, spring, stabilizer bar bushes. One component missed out is Link rods, but that is OK, they do not degrade the ride quality that much. Besides, they make noise when they go bad. You have also installed a pair of new tyres at the front and have shifted the relatively new tyres to the rear. So the tyres are also good. Which leaves only one thing - Bend in rims. This can be diagnosed during wheel balancing where the bent rim would wobble during rotation.

Also, I suggest you try experimenting with the speeds at which you travel over undulations. Some cars drive well over undulations at higher speed and some at lower speeds. Say for example, if you are going over undulations at 20 km/h, try increasing the speed and see if the ride quality is still bumpy. Or try reducing the speed lower that what you usually do over undulations and see if the ride quality improves.

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