Learn the seven warning signs of tyre and wheel damage, when to stop driving and when your vehicle needs a professional inspection.
Hitting a pothole can be more than an uncomfortable bump. Even when the vehicle appears to drive normally afterwards, the impact may have damaged the tyre, wheel or alignment.
Some problems are immediately obvious, such as a flat tyre or visibly bent wheel. Others develop gradually through slow pressure loss, vibration or uneven tyre wear.
After a substantial impact, find somewhere safe to stop and carry out a basic visual check. Pay attention to the following seven warning signs.
1. A bulge, cut or split in the tyre
A bulge on the tyre sidewall is one of the most serious signs of pothole damage.
The impact can weaken the tyre’s internal structure, allowing pressure to push the damaged section outwards. The tyre may still appear inflated, but it could be at greater risk of sudden failure.
You should also look for:
- Deep cuts or splits
- Exposed cords or fabric
- Distorted sections of the sidewall
- Tread beginning to separate
- Damage on the inner side of the tyre
A tyre with a structural bulge or serious sidewall damage will normally need replacing rather than repairing. Do not continue driving simply because it is still holding air.
2. Falling tyre pressure or a TPMS warning
A pothole impact can cause an immediate puncture, but it may also create a slow leak that becomes noticeable several hours or days later.
Pressure can escape through:
- Damage to the tyre
- A leaking valve
- A disturbed tyre bead
- A bent wheel rim
- A fine crack in the wheel
Your tyre pressure monitoring system may display a warning before the tyre looks visibly low.
Do not reset the warning light without checking the pressures first. Inflate the tyres to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended figures and monitor the affected tyre closely.
If the pressure continues to fall, the tyre and wheel should be inspected. Driving on an underinflated tyre can cause further internal damage and may turn a repairable problem into one that requires replacement.
3. The vehicle pulls to one side
A strong pothole impact can disturb the wheel alignment.
You may notice that the vehicle drifts left or right, requires regular steering correction or no longer travels straight when the steering wheel is centred.
Poor alignment can affect handling and cause one side of the tyre to wear much faster than the other. However, pulling can also be caused by unequal tyre pressures, so check these before assuming the alignment is at fault.
Arrange an inspection when:
- The steering wheel sits off-centre
- The vehicle consistently drifts
- The steering feels different after the impact
- One tyre begins wearing unevenly
Alignment problems may not leave you stranded immediately, but ignoring them can shorten tyre life and make the vehicle less predictable to drive.
4. New vibration through the steering wheel or seat
Vibration that begins after hitting a pothole should not be dismissed.
A shaking steering wheel may indicate a problem with a front tyre or wheel, while vibration through the seat or floor can point towards damage at the rear.
Possible causes include:
- A damaged tyre
- A bent or buckled wheel
- Lost wheel-balancing weights
- Uneven wheel balance
- Alignment or suspension damage
The vibration may only appear within a particular speed range. That does not make it harmless.
Wheel balancing can resolve vibration caused by uneven weight distribution, but it will not fix a damaged tyre or bent wheel. The full wheel and tyre assembly should be checked before deciding what work is needed.
Strong vibration accompanied by steering difficulty, unusual noise or visible damage is a reason to stop rather than continue driving.
5. Visible damage to the wheel rim
Both alloy and steel wheels can be damaged by potholes.
Look closely around the edge where the tyre meets the wheel. Warning signs include:
- A flattened section of the rim
- A visible crack
- A missing piece
- A gap between the tyre and wheel
- Fresh impact marks
- A noticeably distorted wheel
Not every scrape is a safety concern. Cosmetic marks are common and may not affect how the vehicle drives.
However, a bent wheel can prevent the tyre from sealing correctly, while even a small crack may cause gradual air loss. Wheel damage can also contribute to vibration and poor handling.
Some cracks are difficult to see while the wheel is fitted, particularly when they are on the inside. Persistent pressure loss after a pothole strike should therefore be investigated even when the visible face of the wheel looks normal.
6. New knocking, scraping or humming noises
Listen carefully to the vehicle after the impact.
A scraping sound could mean that part of the wheel, tyre or wheel-arch liner has been displaced. Rhythmic knocking may be linked to a damaged tyre or wheel, while humming or rumbling that increases with speed may indicate another wheel-related issue.
A severe impact can also affect steering and suspension components, so not every new sound will come directly from the tyre.
Arrange an inspection when the noise:
- Started immediately after the pothole strike
- Changes with road speed
- Becomes louder while turning
- Is accompanied by vibration
- Appears alongside pulling or poor steering control
Trying to identify the fault from the sound alone is unreliable. The safest approach is to have the affected area checked properly.
7. Uneven or unusually fast tyre wear
Some pothole damage develops slowly and may not be obvious during the first journey.
A change in wheel alignment can cause excessive wear on one side of the tyre. Over the following days or weeks, you may notice:
- Inner-edge wear
- Outer-edge wear
- Feathered tread blocks
- Irregular patches
- One tyre wearing faster than the tyre opposite it
Check the tread regularly after a significant impact. Uneven wear suggests that the tyre is not meeting the road correctly and may indicate an alignment, wheel or suspension problem.
Catching the issue early may prevent an otherwise serviceable tyre from wearing out prematurely.
Is it safe to continue driving?
A moderate pothole impact does not automatically make the vehicle unsafe. You may be able to continue cautiously when:
- The tyre remains correctly inflated
- There are no cuts, bulges or exposed cords
- The wheel is not visibly bent
- The vehicle drives straight
- There is no unusual vibration or noise
- No warning lights are showing
Stop and arrange help when the tyre is flat, losing pressure quickly or visibly damaged. You should also avoid continuing when the vehicle pulls strongly, the steering feels unpredictable or there is severe vibration.
When you are unsure, it is better to have the vehicle inspected rather than risk making the damage worse.
For motorists unable to drive safely to a garage, services such as mobile tyre fitting allow the tyre and wheel to be assessed at home, at work or at a roadside location.
Will the tyre need repairing or replacing?
That depends on where the damage is and whether the tyre’s structure has been affected.
A small puncture within the repairable area of the tread may be suitable for professional repair after the tyre has been removed and inspected internally.
Replacement will normally be necessary when there is:
- Sidewall damage
- A structural bulge
- Exposed cords
- Severe impact damage
- Evidence that the tyre was driven while flat
- Damage outside the safe repair area
Wheel balancing may be needed when the wheel and tyre no longer rotate evenly. A bent or cracked wheel may require specialist repair or replacement, while pulling and uneven wear may indicate that wheel alignment also needs attention.
What information should you provide when requesting assistance?
Having the right details ready can make arranging help quicker.
Try to provide:
- Your exact location
- Vehicle registration
- Tyre size
- Which wheel hit the pothole
- Whether the tyre is flat or losing pressure
- Details of any visible damage
- Whether the vehicle can be moved safely
- Whether you have the locking wheel nut key
The tyre size is printed on the sidewall and will look similar to 225/45 R18 95Y.
Do not ignore changes after a pothole impact
The most serious damage is not always immediately visible. A tyre can remain inflated despite internal weakness, while a fine wheel crack may cause pressure to fall gradually.
After hitting a substantial pothole, check the tyre and wheel, monitor the pressure and pay attention to any change in handling, vibration, noise or wear.
When something feels different, arranging an inspection promptly is usually safer and less expensive than continuing until the tyre or wheel fails.
