Newcastle City Council and the surrounding North East councils receive thousands of pothole reports every year, and the impact of these road defects on tyres and wheels is significant. When a tyre hits a pothole at speed — common on the frost-damaged roads around Westerhope, Blaydon and the older residential streets of Heaton and Byker — the rubber compresses violently against the wheel rim. This sudden impact can cause an immediate blowout, create a sidewall bulge that leads to a blowout days later, or crack and buckle the alloy wheel.
After any significant pothole strike on a Newcastle road, carry out this immediate check: Look for any sidewall bulging or bubbling on the tyre — if present, stop driving and call for mobile tyre assistance immediately. Check the wheel rim for cracks or bends. If the car pulls to one side after the impact, your wheel alignment has likely been knocked out. Vibration through the steering wheel at speed suggests a bent wheel or internal tyre damage that needs professional assessment.
Newcastle City Council has a highways fault reporting portal where you can log potholes and potentially claim compensation for vehicle damage — photograph the pothole and the damage before leaving the scene. For immediate tyre and wheel safety assessment after a Newcastle or North East pothole incident, call Royal Mobile Tyres on 0191 7436267. We can come to your location across Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area to inspect your tyres and advise on any required repairs or replacements.