Do I need a new tire after hitting a curb?
Deciding whether sidewall or chunk damage requires an immediate replacement or can wait a week or two causes a lot of uncertainty. Drivers are left unsure if the tire is safe to drive on or if it creates an emergency.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Rotating the damaged tire to the rear and monitoring it for bulges
- 2Checking how the car drives to see if the belt has shifted
- 3asking mechanics online by posting photos of the tires
- 4moving good rear tires to the front
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I am not sure if this needs to be replaced or not. The tire, not the wife”source ↗
Local_Ad9 · r/AskMechanics · 4 upvotes
“Is it an emergency or can it wait a week or two?”source ↗
New_Advantage_9633 · r/AskMechanics · 1 upvotes
“Ughhhh ok thank you”source ↗
New_Advantage_9633 · r/AskMechanics · 1 upvotes
“do I need new front tires?”source ↗
New_Advantage_9633 · r/AskMechanics
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 8How to tell if brake pads and rotors actually need replacing
- 7How to tell if car suspension bushings need to be replaced
- 8Is it safe to drive on a damaged tire while waiting for a replacement?
- 7How to assess car damage and talk to a mechanic remotely
- 4How to tell if a broken car part needs immediate repair
- 2Flat tire again right after getting it replaced