Tyre and Wheel Damage After an Accident in Scotland: What to Check

# Tyre and Wheel Damage After an Accident in Scotland: What to Check

After any significant impact — a collision, kerb strike, or hard pothole hit — your tyres and wheels may be damaged in ways that are not immediately visible. Driving on undetected damage can cause a sudden blowout or loss of control.

This guide explains what to check after an accident and when it is unsafe to drive.

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What Types of Accidents Cause Tyre and Wheel Damage?

Any impact that transmits force to the tyre or wheel can cause damage:

• Pothole impact at speed: can cause rim damage, inner sidewall bruising, or tyre bead damage
• Kerb strike: often damages the inner sidewall (hidden from view) and can bend the rim's inner flange
• Rear-end collision: typically transmits force forward — check front tyres for suspension-related displacement
• Side-swipe or fender contact: can directly impact the wheel and tyre with enough force to cause structural damage
• Reversing into a kerb or post: rear tyre sidewall and rim damage
• Off-road or grass verge impact: stones can damage sidewalls; ruts can stress wheels

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Immediate Post-Accident Tyre Check

After any significant impact, perform this inspection before driving further:

Step 1: Visual Check — All Four Tyres

Walk around the car and look at each tyre. Look for:

• Any bulge or bubble on the sidewall (indicates internal cord failure — do not drive)
• Any visible crack or gash in the sidewall rubber
• A tyre that appears visibly lower or flatter than the others
• Any tyre that appears to be sitting at an unusual angle

Step 2: Feel the Sidewalls

Place your hand on each sidewall and run it around the circumference. Feel for:

• Any raised bump or soft spot (bubble beginning to form)
• Any abnormal stiffness or yielding area

Step 3: Check the Rim

Look at the outer face of each alloy or steel wheel. Look for:

• Any crack in the wheel — particularly radial cracks spreading from the centre
• Any deformation of the outer rim lip where the tyre bead seats
• Any gouge deep enough to have penetrated the wheel material
• Any area of fresh bright metal (indicating where the wheel has been scraped against something)

A cracked wheel must not be driven on. A crack may be hairline and not immediately visible — if you have any doubt, have the wheel inspected by a specialist.

Step 4: Check Tyre Pressures

Use a tyre pressure gauge on all four tyres. A tyre losing pressure that looks otherwise normal may have an undetectable inner sidewall tear or bead seal failure.

If a tyre is losing pressure, do not reinflate it and drive. Call Tyre Rescue for a replacement.

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The Hidden Problem: Inner Sidewall Damage

The most dangerous form of post-accident tyre damage is inner sidewall damage — damage to the side of the tyre that faces the car, not the road.

A kerb strike at speed often causes a classic inner sidewall impact: the wheel is driven forcefully into the kerb, compressing the inner sidewall between the rim and the kerb edge. This can:

• Tear internal cords without any visible outer damage
• Create an internal bubble that only becomes visible days or weeks later
• Damage the bead area, causing progressive slow pressure loss

You will need to look through the wheel arch with a torch — or better, have the wheel removed and inspected — to see the inner sidewall. If you have had a significant kerb strike and cannot see the inner sidewall, have it professionally inspected before driving any distance.

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Alignment After an Accident

Any impact sufficient to cause tyre or wheel damage likely also affected your wheel alignment.

Symptoms of misalignment after an accident:

• Car pulls to one side on a straight road
• Steering wheel is not centred when driving straight
• Vibration at speed
• Uneven tyre wear appearing in the weeks after the accident

If any of these symptoms appear after an impact, book a four-wheel alignment check before replacing any damaged tyres — fitting new tyres on misaligned axles will simply repeat the same uneven wear pattern.

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Insurance Implications

If your tyre or wheel damage was caused by someone else's negligence (e.g., a collision where they were at fault), the cost of replacement should be covered by their insurance.

Keep evidence: photograph the damage, the other vehicle if involved, and the accident scene. Pothole damage: if caused by a pothole on a public road, you can claim against the relevant roads authority. See our [pothole damage claim guide](/blog/pothole-damage-claim-scotland). Your own comprehensive cover: many comprehensive policies cover tyre damage caused by an accident. Check your policy excess and whether it is worth claiming (claiming can affect your no-claims discount).

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When to Not Drive

Do not drive if any of the following are present:

Condition	Action
Visible sidewall bubble or bulge	Call Tyre Rescue — do not drive
Cracked wheel rim	Do not drive — tow or trailer
Tyre significantly deflated after impact	Do not drive — call for replacement
Steering pulling severely to one side	Drive only slowly to a safe stop
Grinding or scraping sound when driving	Stop immediately — check for contact

If you are unsure, err on the side of caution. Call Tyre Rescue and describe what you have found — we will advise on whether the car is safe to drive or needs on-site assistance.

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Call 0141 266 0690 for post-accident tyre inspection and replacement across Scotland. We carry common tyre sizes and come to your location.

[Pothole damage claim Scotland](/blog/pothole-damage-claim-scotland) | [Tyre sidewall damage Scotland](/blog/tyre-sidewall-damage-scotland) | [Low profile tyre guide Scotland](/blog/low-profile-tyres-scotland-guide)