What to Do When a Tire Hits the Curb?
3 Answers
Tires hitting the curb can cause significant damage, potentially leading to sidewall bulges, deformation of the tire, or even distortion of the chassis suspension or shock absorbers. Follow these steps: 1. First, inspect the tire surface for any damage. If there is no visible damage or air leakage, the tire can continue to be used. However, if abnormalities like bulges are detected, the tire should be replaced promptly. 2. Avoid forcibly driving over curbs. Forcing the vehicle over a curb, especially when there is a significant height difference, can easily cause excessive tire compression and damage.
When my tire hits the curb, my first reaction is to safely park the car to avoid secondary damage. Find a safe spot to stop, turn off the engine, don't block the road, and quickly get out to check the tire condition. Look for bulges, cracks, or air leaks, and feel the rim for any deformation or distortion. If there's obvious damage, like a severe tire bulge, never force driving as it could easily lead to a blowout and loss of control. For minor bumps, you can drive slowly to a nearby repair shop for a professional check on whether the suspension and alignment are off. Once, I neglected a slightly damaged wheel and ended up with a constantly off-center steering wheel, costing over 800 yuan to fix. Lesson learned: safety first. It's best to regularly check tire pressure and rim flatness to prevent similar troubles.
Don't panic when driving onto the curb. First, slow down smoothly and stop in a safe area. I immediately got out to carefully check the tire surface for scratches or bulges. If the rim is deformed, the car will shake severely when driving. If the damage is minor, drive slowly to a repair shop for inspection. Low pressure makes it easy to hear air leakage sounds—just add some air and continue. However, if there's a bulge, stop driving immediately to prevent accidents. When parking, leave some space from the roadside, and be extra cautious in poor visibility. Keep a tire pressure gauge in your tool kit for regular checks. Repair shops have equipment to quickly diagnose wheel conditions, allowing timely fixes to avoid costly repairs later.
