Inspect the tyre and wheel after the impact
Start where the impact happened. Look around the tyre sidewall, tread and wheel rim. TyreSafe advises checking for cuts, lumps and bulges after pothole damage, alongside obvious wheel problems such as a buckle.
Inspect the alloy closely where the rim met the pothole. A fresh mark can be cosmetic, but a crack, deformity or pressure loss needs workshop attention. Do not rely on a tyre that looks normal from one angle if the vehicle now feels different.
- Cuts, lumps or bulges in the tyre sidewall
- A visibly soft tyre or repeated pressure loss
- A buckled rim, hairline crack or fresh impact mark on the wheel
- New vibration or a change in how the vehicle feels on the road
Pressure loss can arrive later
A hard impact can damage a tyre, wheel or valve area without causing an immediate flat. TyreSafe notes that hairline alloy cracks can allow air to escape gradually. Check tyre pressure again after the impact and take any dashboard pressure warning seriously.
Do not keep topping up a tyre that loses pressure after a pothole. Repeated inflation hides the pattern without finding the cause. Bring the vehicle in for tyre and wheel assessment so the workshop can identify the appropriate repair or replacement route.
Match the symptom to the workshop service
Use Puncture Repair when a tread puncture or pressure loss is suspected. Use Wheel Repair when the alloy is visibly damaged or needs a repairability assessment. Use Wheel Balancing when a tyre and wheel inspection has cleared an obvious fault but a speed-related vibration needs checking.
A pothole can also mark a bumper, sill or painted panel. If the impact has created cosmetic bodywork damage, use the photo assessment route so the workshop can review the visible repair boundary before you travel.
Call before travelling with a damaged tyre
Call the Mitcham workshop before travelling if the tyre is flat, has a visible bulge or cut, or the wheel looks cracked or heavily deformed. Explain the impact and the damage you can see. The team can advise on the workshop assessment route.
IQ Tyres offers tyre, wheel and bodywork assessment from its Mitcham workshop. It does not provide mobile, roadside or wheel-alignment services.