Key takeaways
- After a pothole hit, check tyres for sidewall bulges and cuts, wheels for buckling, and watch for steering pull or vibration that signals tracking damage.
- A sidewall bulge means internal structural damage — the tyre is unsafe and must be replaced, not repaired.
- Report potholes to the local council (or National Highways for motorways and major A-roads); reporting also supports any later claim.
- You can claim for pothole damage from the responsible authority, though success often depends on whether they knew about the defect.
- Keep photos, receipts and the report reference to back up a claim.
A single pothole hit at speed can bend a wheel, split a tyre or knock your tracking out — sometimes all three. The damage is not always obvious straight away, which is why a careful check matters before you carry on. This guide covers what to inspect after a pothole, how to report the defect and how to claim for any repairs you are left paying for.
What should you check after hitting a pothole?
After a hard pothole hit, pull over safely as soon as you can and check three things: the tyres for bulges, cuts or rapid deflation; the wheels for visible buckling or cracks; and the car's behaviour for new vibration or pulling to one side. Any of these means the impact has done real damage that needs attention before you drive far.
Even if nothing looks wrong, stay alert for symptoms over the next few miles. Some damage, especially to tracking or a slow puncture, only shows up once you are back up to speed.
How do you spot sidewall and tyre damage?
Look closely at the sidewall — the smooth area between the tread and the wheel. A bulge or "egg" means the internal cords have been damaged by the impact, and the tyre can fail without warning, so it must be replaced rather than repaired. Also check for cuts, splits or air escaping, and a tyre that has gone soft.
Sidewall damage cannot be safely repaired under the BS AU 159 standard, which only allows repairs within the central three-quarters of the tread. Our guide to sidewall damage explains why in detail.
How do you check for wheel and tracking damage?
Pothole impacts can buckle alloy or steel wheels and knock the wheel alignment (tracking) out, which wears tyres unevenly and makes the car pull or feel vague. Inspect the rim for flat spots, dents or cracks, and notice how the car drives afterwards. A new vibration through the wheel or a pull to one side are the classic warning signs.
- Steering pulls to one side on a straight, level road — likely tracking.
- Vibration through the steering wheel, worse at speed — buckled wheel or balance.
- Uneven or rapid tyre wear afterwards — misalignment.
- Visible dents or cracks in the rim — a damaged wheel.
If you suspect alignment trouble, read wheel alignment vs balancing to tell the two apart. Heavy urban routes wear suspension and tyres faster too — see how city driving affects your tyres.
How do you report a pothole?
Report a pothole to the authority responsible for that road: the local council for most streets and minor roads, or National Highways for motorways and major A-roads in England. You can report online via gov.uk's "report a pothole" service, which routes you to the right body. Reporting gets it fixed and creates a record that supports any later claim.
Note the exact location, date and time, and take photos of the pothole and the damage if it is safe to do so. Ask for a reference number when you report.
| Road type | Who to report to |
|---|---|
| Local streets and minor roads | Your local council (via gov.uk) |
| Motorways and major A-roads (England) | National Highways |
| Roads in Scotland / Wales / NI | The relevant national roads body |
What hidden damage can a pothole cause?
Some pothole damage never shows on the tyre at all. A hard impact can crack an alloy wheel on its inner edge where you cannot see it, knock a wheel out of balance, or strain suspension parts such as springs, shock absorbers and track rod ends. These faults often reveal themselves slowly as vibration, knocking noises or a car that no longer tracks straight.
A buckled wheel will also leak air gradually as the bead seal is disturbed, mimicking a slow puncture. If a tyre keeps losing pressure after a pothole with no obvious nail, suspect the rim. Our guide to slow puncture causes and fixes explains how to track down the source.
Can you claim for pothole damage?
Yes — you can claim for pothole damage from the authority responsible for the road, usually the council or National Highways. Success often depends on whether they already knew the pothole was there and had failed to fix it within a reasonable time, as authorities can defend a claim if they show a proper inspection regime was in place.
- Gather evidence: dated photos of the pothole and the damage.
- Keep all repair invoices and the tyre or wheel itself if asked.
- Report the pothole and keep the reference number.
- Submit a claim to the responsible authority in writing.
- If refused, you can ask for their inspection records or escalate.
How can you avoid pothole damage in the first place?
You cannot avoid every pothole, but a few habits cut the odds and the severity of a hit. The biggest factors are speed and tyre pressure: slowing down gives the suspension time to absorb the impact, and correctly inflated tyres protect the wheel rim far better than soft ones, which let the rim slam into the pothole edge.
- Keep a safe distance so you can see potholes early rather than swerving at the last moment.
- Slow down before an unavoidable pothole, then come off the brakes as you pass over it.
- Keep tyres at the correct pressure — soft tyres offer the rim far less protection.
- Take extra care in the wet, when a flooded pothole can hide its true depth.
Urban driving means more potholes, kerbs and stop-start wear, all of which take a toll on tyres and suspension over time, so the busier your routes, the more worthwhile these habits become.
Get pothole damage sorted where you are
If a pothole has left you with a bulging tyre, a slow puncture or a tyre that will not hold air, do not keep driving on it. Fast Tyre's mobile tyre fitting brings a replacement to your home, work or the roadside across London and central England, usually within 30 to 60 minutes. We will inspect the tyre, advise honestly on the wheel and tracking, and get you safely back on the road.
Frequently asked questions
It depends where. A puncture within the central three-quarters of the tread can often be repaired to BS AU 159 standard, but a sidewall bulge, split or cut cannot — that damage means the tyre is unsafe and must be replaced.
It means the impact has broken the internal cords inside the tyre. The bulge is a weak spot that can fail suddenly at speed, so the tyre must be replaced, not repaired. It is also an automatic MOT failure.
Watch how the car drives afterwards. If the steering pulls to one side on a straight, level road, the wheel vibrates, or your tyres start wearing unevenly, the alignment has likely been knocked out and should be checked.
Report it to the council for most local roads, or National Highways for motorways and major A-roads in England. The gov.uk report-a-pothole service routes you to the right authority. Note the location and take photos to support any claim.
Yes, from the authority responsible for the road. Claims are stronger when you have dated photos, repair receipts and a report reference. Authorities can defend claims by proving regular inspections, so evidence that the defect was known helps your case.
Only after checking. Pull over safely and inspect for bulges, cuts, buckled wheels and air loss, and notice any new pull or vibration. If the tyre is bulging or losing air, do not drive on it — arrange a replacement instead.