Can a Bad Wheel Bearing Cause a Tire to Fall Off?
Many people wonder if a single faulty component, such as a bad wheel bearing, can cause a tire to dislodge from its rim. While this may not happen instantly, severe enough failure of a wheel bearing can lead to a complete assembly, including the tire, falling off. In this article, we will explore the rare but real possibility of a tire falling off due to a faulty wheel bearing and explain the potential hazards involved.
Understanding the Connection Between a Bad Wheel Bearing and Tire Loss
Initially, a wheel bearing is designed to support the weight of a vehicle and enable smooth rotation of the wheels. However, when a wheel bearing fails, the lack of proper support can lead to catastrophic consequences. This is because a wheel bearing plays a crucial role in holding all the components of the wheel in place, including the tire, wheel rim, and hub assembly.
Simply put, it takes more than a bad wheel bearing to make a tire fall off entirely. However, if the bearing fails completely, it can cause the entire wheel/tire assembly to come apart, leading to the tire becoming detached from the rim. This detachment may happen either while driving, particularly during cornering, or when the vehicle is stationary due to overheating.
A Real-Life Incident: A Not-So-Prophetic Warning
The consequences of running a wheel bearing to failure can be quite dramatic. In 1989, a 5-ton box truck experienced a harrowing encounter with a faulty wheel bearing. The incident occurred while the vehicle was being moved for a two-hour relocation at the request of the owner and two young sons adrift on a 3-month-old vehicle with around 15,000 miles on it.
The driver, accompanied by his sons, encountered a shimmy in the vehicle while returning for a second load. A few minutes later, the right front wheel completely fell off, attached only by the braking system. The glitch in the vehicle’s front oil-type bearings was later identified as the culprit. The hub, where the entire wheel assembly is joined, became so hot that a mere 20 minutes after the incident, it was completely dry, even in a light rain.
Factors Contributing to the Failure of a Wheel Bearing
While a faulty wheel bearing can ultimately cause a tire to fall off, it is not an instant failure. A worn-out bearing will produce a significant amount of noise for an extended period before the assembly eventually separates. The specific causes of a wheel bearing failure can include contamination by foreign particles such as water, grit, or soil. This issue is particularly common with boat trailers that have not undergone regular greasing.
Water gets into the bearings, heats up, and causes the bearings to dissolve. The friction generated by the malfunctioning bearings causes the axle to overheat and eventually seize up. Once the axle fails, the entire wheel assembly is set free to fall off the vehicle as it cools down near the road. In similar conditions, a car’s wheel may suffer the same fate.
Consequences of a Tire Falling Off Due to a Bad Wheel Bearing
When a tire falls off due to a bad wheel bearing, it is not merely about the tire losing its rim. The issue is much more extensive and affects the vehicle's undercarriage. This detachment can encompass the entire wheel assembly, including the braking system (brake drum or disc and hub).
The outcome of such an event can be disastrous. Not only will the tire need to be replaced, but the wheel assembly, the braking components, and possibly other related parts must also be repaired or replaced. This can result in a seriously expensive repair bill, making early detection and maintenance of the wheel bearing essential.