Pothole damage is tricky because the car might look fine at a glance, yet something underneath has shifted, bent, or started wearing differently. The impact happens fast, but the effects can linger for weeks, especially if you keep driving the same routes and hit a few more. What matters most is how the hit traveled through the tire, the wheel, and the suspension parts behind it.

The clues usually show up after you’ve put a few miles on it.

Why Potholes Hit More Than The Tire

A pothole strike is a sharp upward hit that compresses the tire and forces the wheel to take the rest of the load. That force can travel into the hub, steering parts, and suspension joints in a split second. Even at moderate speeds, the impact can be strong enough to nudge alignment angles or stress rubber bushings.

Some hits feel dramatic, while others feel like a quick thump that you forget about by the next stoplight. The problem is that a smaller hit can still create a slow leak, a slight bend, or a suspension joint that now has extra play. That is why it helps to pay attention to what changes after the impact, not just how loud the bang was.

Tire Damage You Cannot Always See

The most common tire issue after a pothole is internal damage to the sidewall or belt package. You might not see a cut, but the tire can develop a bubble, a wobble, or a weak spot that causes vibration at certain speeds. Sometimes the only symptom is a tire that keeps losing air every few days.

A pothole can also pinch the tire against the wheel and damage the bead area where the tire seals. That can create a slow leak that looks like a valve stem issue until the wheel is inspected closely. If the tire is older, the odds go up because the rubber is less forgiving and the internal structure has already seen plenty of heat cycles.

Wheel Bends And Cracks After A Hard Impact

Wheels often take the hit right at the lip, where a bend can form without being obvious from a quick walkaround. A small bend can still cause vibration, make balancing difficult, or keep the tire from sealing consistently. In some cases, the bend is only visible when the wheel is spun and checked for runout.

Cracks are less common, but they can happen, especially with sharp pothole edges or low-profile tires. We often see air loss that worsens when temperatures change because the crack opens slightly as the wheel flexes. If you notice the steering wheel shaking right after a pothole hit, the wheel should be on the suspect list along with the tire.

Alignment And Suspension Wear That Follows

A pothole can knock alignment out just enough to start uneven tire wear. The car may pull slightly, feel twitchy on the highway, or fight you on crowned roads. Even if it drives mostly straight, the tires can start feathering, which makes road noise and wear show up sooner.

Suspension parts can take damage too, especially tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, and struts. A worn joint might start clunking only over bumps, or it may create a vague feeling in the steering that is hard to describe. Keeping up with regular maintenance helps here because small changes in wear are easier to spot when you are already rotating tires and checking tread patterns.

Clues The Pothole Caused Hidden Problems

Sometimes the car seems fine until you notice a new vibration, a pull, or a noise that was not there before. Those symptoms often point to a tire or wheel issue first, but they can also suggest an alignment shift or a suspension part that took a hit. If you are unsure what you are feeling, these are common pothole-after signs drivers report:

• Steering wheel vibration that starts at a specific speed
• The car pulls left or right on a flat road
• A tire loses air faster than the others
• A new clunk or rattle over bumps
• Uneven tread wear that shows up quickly

If you see one of these, try not to compensate by just gripping the wheel tighter or turning the radio up. Small changes in feel usually mean something physically changed, and it is easier to address early. Waiting can turn a simple tire or wheel fix into a set of tires worn unevenly.

When To Get It Checked And What We Test

If you hit a pothole hard enough to make you wince, or if you notice any change afterward, getting it checked is a smart move. A thorough inspection typically starts with tire condition, wheel seal area, and a quick check for bends or cracks. From there, the steering and suspension points get checked for looseness, torn boots, or fresh movement that should not be there.

We also look for the kind of issues that create repeat problems, like a wheel that will not balance out, or a tire that measures out-of-round even when it looks fine. Alignment measurements help confirm whether the angles shifted, and a road test can confirm whether the vibration is coming from the front, rear, or both. The goal is to pinpoint the cause so you are not replacing parts based on a hunch.

Get Pothole Damage Repair In Cannon Falls, MN With Nate's Garage - Auto & Body Shop

If a pothole hit left you with vibration, pulling, or a tire that keeps losing air, Nate's Garage - Auto & Body Shop can check the tire, wheel, and suspension areas that usually take the impact. You will get clear options before any repairs move forward.

Set up a visit and get the car feeling steady again.