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.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Rotating the damaged tire to the rear and monitoring it for bulgesDid this help you?
- 2Checking how the car drives to see if the belt has shiftedDid this help you?
- 3asking mechanics online by posting photos of the tiresDid this help you?
- 4moving good rear tires to the frontDid this help you?
- 5Taking the car to a shop slowlyDid this help you?
- 6Checking tire pressureDid this help you?
- 7Inspecting the tire sidewall for bulges or damageDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, 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 ↗
“Is it an emergency or can it wait a week or two?”source ↗
“Ughhhh ok thank you”source ↗
“do I need new front tires?”source ↗
“Sorry it was the side I’m concerned for it dropped 0.5 psi in like 33 hours but the front looks normal”source ↗
“Oh sorry I’m a new driver I will do that when I’m back home thank you!”source ↗
“Hit a curb at approx 20mph due to getting cut of and now I’m concerned why does it look a bit wonky”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7Is this tire puncture too close to the sidewall to repair?
- 3How to tell if used car tires are worn out
- 8Driving on 3/32 tread tires for a long road trip
- 2Are tires with cracked sidewalls safe?
- 21How to tell if brake pads and rotors actually need replacing
- 2Should I set my tire pressure by the door sticker or the tire max?