A bulls-eye chip is one of the most recognizable types of windshield damage. It appears as a dark, circular mark on your windshield, often with a cone-shaped impact point at the center surrounded by one or more concentric rings of separated glass. The name comes from its resemblance to the target pattern on a dartboard. For Tempe drivers, understanding this chip type is valuable because bulls-eye chips are common on our highways and, fortunately, among the easiest to repair.
How Bulls-Eye Chips Form
A bulls-eye forms when a round or nearly round object strikes the windshield at a close-to-perpendicular angle. The circular shape happens because the impact energy radiates outward evenly from the point of contact, creating a symmetrical separation in the outer glass layer. Think of it like dropping a ball bearing onto a pane of glass -- the resulting damage pattern is naturally circular.
On Tempe roads, bulls-eye chips commonly come from:
- Rounded gravel: Desert rock and smooth gravel used in road construction throughout the Valley metro and along freeway expansion corridors
- Tire-launched pebbles: Small, rounded stones picked up in tire treads and ejected at speed, especially common in congested traffic on I-10 near the downtown interchange and Loop 101
- Monsoon debris: Arizona's monsoon season sweeps loose stones and gravel across roads; impacts from windblown debris are especially common from July through September
- Falling debris: Objects dropping from overpasses or from elevated construction zones along Tempe's freeway expansion projects
Why Bulls-Eyes Are the Easiest to Repair
Bulls-eye chips have two characteristics that make them ideal repair candidates. First, their smooth, circular shape creates a clean cavity that allows repair resin to flow evenly into the damaged area. There are no jagged fracture lines or branching cracks that might trap air pockets. Second, bulls-eye chips tend to be self-contained -- the damage stays within the circular pattern rather than extending outward into unpredictable cracks.
This combination means that a bulls-eye repair typically produces the best cosmetic results of any chip type. After repair, the dark circle becomes nearly invisible because the resin fills the air gap completely and matches the refractive index of the surrounding glass.
Size Limits for Bulls-Eye Repair
The standard size limit for bulls-eye repair is one inch in diameter, roughly the size of a quarter. Most bulls-eye chips fall well within this range -- typically dime-sized or smaller. Here is a quick size reference:
| Size | Coin Comparison | Repairable? | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1/4 inch | Pencil eraser | Yes | Nearly invisible |
| 1/4 to 1/2 inch | Dime | Yes | Minimal visibility |
| 1/2 to 1 inch | Quarter | Yes | Slight mark may remain |
| Over 1 inch | Larger than quarter | Likely not | Replacement recommended |
The Bulls-Eye Repair Process Step by Step
A standard bulls-eye repair takes about 20 minutes. The technician cleans the impact area, removes any loose glass fragments from the center cone, and positions the repair bridge over the chip. A vacuum cycle extracts trapped air from the circular cavity. Then optically clear resin is injected under pressure, filling the entire bulls-eye pattern. UV light cures the resin solid in about 5 minutes, and the surface is polished flush. You can drive immediately after.
For a detailed walkthrough of each step, see our guide on how long chip repair takes.
When a Bulls-Eye Becomes Something More
A bulls-eye that develops cracks radiating outward from the circular pattern has evolved into a combination break. This often happens when a bulls-eye is left unrepaired and subjected to Arizona's temperature extremes. The intense Tempe heat causes the edges of the circular pattern to fracture, sending cracks outward in a star-like pattern.
A combination break can still be repaired if the total damage diameter stays under three inches, but the repair is more complex and the cosmetic result will not be as clean as a pure bulls-eye repair. This is yet another reason to get bulls-eye chips repaired promptly -- before they evolve into more complex damage patterns.
Cost and Insurance for Bulls-Eye Repair
Bulls-eye repairs in Tempe typically cost $49 to $69 out of pocket. With Arizona insurance, most drivers pay $0 thanks to Arizona law requiring insurers to cover glass repair with no deductible when you carry comprehensive coverage. Because bulls-eye repairs are among the quickest and most straightforward, they are the most cost-effective type of windshield repair available. Learn more about insurance coverage for chip repair in Arizona.