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Hit a Pothole? How to Check Your Tyre and Wheel Afterwards

Hit a pothole in West Lothian or Edinburgh? What to check on your tyre and wheel, the warning signs that mean stop, and how to report the pothole.

That heavy thud when a wheel drops into a pothole is hard to ignore. Often the car drives on as normal, but a hard impact can damage a tyre or wheel in ways that are not obvious straight away. Here is what to check, which signs mean you should not keep driving, and how to report the pothole so it gets repaired.

First: get somewhere safe

If the steering suddenly pulls, the car vibrates, or a warning light comes on, slow down and stop where it is safe and legal to do so — not on a narrow verge or a bend. On a motorway, move into the left lane and pull into an emergency area or onto the hard shoulder if you can, leave the car by the side furthest from traffic if it is safe to do so, and wait well away from the car, behind the safety barrier where there is one[4]. Only check the car once you and your passengers are safe.

What to look for on the tyre

Walk round the car and look closely at the tyre that took the hit, including the inner edge if you can see it.

  • A bulge or lump on the sidewall. This usually means the internal structure has been damaged and air is pushing through. A tyre with a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure is a dangerous defect in the MOT[1], and more importantly it can fail suddenly on the road. Do not drive on it at speed — have it replaced.
  • Cuts or splits. Small surface scuffs are common, but a deep cut where the cords inside are exposed, or a cut on the sidewall, needs a professional to look at it.
  • Pressure loss. Check the pressure against the figure in your handbook or on the label inside the driver's door. If one tyre keeps losing air after a pothole, the bead or the wheel rim may be damaged.
  • Tread. While you are there, check the tread depth. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the whole circumference[2].

What to look for on the wheel

  • Dents or flat spots on the rim edge, especially on the inner side. A bent rim can let air escape slowly and cause vibration.
  • Cracks in alloy wheels. A cracked wheel should not be used.
  • Wobble or vibration through the steering wheel at speed after the impact can point to a bent wheel or a tracking problem.

Signs you should not keep driving

  • A visible bulge on the sidewall
  • The tyre is flat or losing air quickly
  • The car pulls strongly to one side or the steering feels wrong
  • Heavy vibration, or a new noise from the wheel

In any of these cases, the safest option is not to drive further on that wheel. Use your spare if you have one and it is safe to change it where you are, or call for help.

After a pothole, even if everything seems fine

  • Check the tyre again over the next day or two — slow leaks and bulges do not always show immediately.
  • If the steering wheel is no longer straight, or the tyre starts wearing on one edge, have the alignment checked.
  • Keep a note of where and when it happened, and take photos of the pothole (only if it is safe) and of any damage.

Report the pothole

Reporting the pothole helps get it fixed before it damages another car.

  • West Lothian: use the council's online form to report a pothole or other road issue, or call the council's Customer Service Centre on 01506 280000[3]. Give the nearest house number, street and town, and drop the pin on the exact spot.
  • Elsewhere: report it to the local council responsible for the road. Motorways and trunk roads in Scotland are managed separately from council roads.

If you intend to make a claim for damage, ask the council about its claims process and keep your photos, repair invoice and the exact location and time.

Need a tyre replaced where you are?

SFR Motors Ltd provides 24/7 mobile tyre fitting, repair and replacement across Bathgate, Livingston, Edinburgh and West Lothian, and surrounding areas including Falkirk and North Lanarkshire (see all the areas we cover). We are usually with you within 30–60 minutes. If pothole damage has left you with a tyre that is not safe to drive on, call us on 0131 202 0289 or WhatsApp us on 07448 427154 — send your location, vehicle and tyre size (a photo of the tyre helps), and we will talk you through the options and give you a quote.

References

  1. DVSA, MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles — 5. Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension, gov.uk ↑
  2. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, regulation 27, legislation.gov.uk; Highway Code Annex 6, gov.uk ↑
  3. West Lothian Council, Report a Pothole or Other Road Issue, westlothian.gov.uk ↑
  4. The Highway Code, rule 277 (breakdowns on motorways), gov.uk ↑