How to Stop Coil Spring From Hitting Tire When Hitting Potholes

Hitting a pothole and hearing a loud scrape or thud from your wheel well is unsettling. Worse, if your coil spring is making contact with your tire, it's not just annoying it's a safety problem. A spring rubbing against a tire can shred the sidewall in minutes, leading to a blowout at speed. Understanding how to stop a coil spring from hitting your tire on a pothole can save you from expensive tire damage, suspension repairs, and a dangerous roadside situation.

What Does It Mean When Your Coil Spring Hits the Tire?

Your coil spring sits around or near the strut assembly and is designed to compress and rebound within a specific range of travel. When a spring contacts the tire, it means something in the suspension is allowing too much compression, or the spring has shifted out of its seated position. The tire's sidewall gets rubbed or struck, which can happen on one sharp bump or repeatedly over rough roads.

This isn't a normal condition. If you notice rubber shavings near your wheel, scrape marks on the spring, or a rubbing sound over bumps, the spring and tire are making contact. Sometimes the issue is obvious you can see the spring resting against the tire when the car is parked. Other times, it only happens under load, like when you hit a pothole or dip in the road.

Why Does the Coil Spring Hit the Tire on a Pothole?

Several things can cause this, and they all relate to the suspension losing its ability to keep the spring contained within its designed travel:

Sagging or broken coil spring: Over time, springs lose their height and tension. A sagged spring sits lower and may lean into the tire's path. A broken spring especially one with a missing lower coil can shift and directly contact the wheel. If you suspect this, see our guide on diagnosing a broken coil spring that's scraping the tire.
Worn or collapsed strut mounts and bump stops: The bump stop is a rubber cushion that limits how far the suspension compresses. If it's deteriorated or missing, the spring can compress beyond its safe range and contact the tire. Similarly, a failed upper strut mount can let the spring assembly shift sideways.
Aftermarket lowering springs or incorrect spring fitment: Lowered suspension reduces the gap between the spring perch and the tire. If the springs aren't matched to the struts, or the car is lowered too aggressively, the spring can contact the tire under full compression. We cover this in more detail in our article on coil spring sagging onto the wheel after lowering.
Wrong spring size or poor installation: Using a spring with the wrong diameter, length, or rate for your vehicle can cause it to sit improperly in its seat. During hard compression like hitting a pothole it shifts and strikes the tire.
Worn control arm bushings: Bushings that have deteriorated let the wheel move in ways it shouldn't, effectively closing the clearance between the spring and tire.

How Do You Stop the Coil Spring from Hitting the Tire?

The fix depends on the root cause. Here are the practical steps, from inspection to repair:

Step 1: Safely Inspect the Suspension

Park on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and use jack stands never work under a car supported only by a jack. Look at each coil spring for cracks, breaks, or uneven height. Check if the spring is properly seated in its upper and lower perches. Look at the bump stops and strut mounts for damage or collapse. Compare both sides a spring that sits noticeably lower than the opposite side is likely sagged or broken.

Step 2: Check Tire Clearance

With the car on the ground, look at the gap between the top of the tire and the spring or spring perch. There should be visible clearance at rest. If the spring is already close to or touching the tire at rest, it will definitely make contact over bumps. If the clearance looks fine at rest but you still hear contact over potholes, the issue is likely excessive compression travel from worn bump stops or a weak spring.

Step 3: Replace the Damaged or Sagging Spring

If the spring is broken, sagged, or the wrong size, replace it. Always replace coil springs in pairs (both fronts or both rears) to maintain even ride height and handling. Make sure the replacement spring matches your vehicle's year, make, model, and trim and whether it's a base or sport suspension. If you're dealing with a spring that's already rubbing, our guide on fixing a coil spring that's contacting the tire covers repair options and costs.

Step 4: Replace Worn Bump Stops and Strut Mounts

New bump stops are inexpensive and should be replaced whenever you're doing spring or strut work. They're the last line of defense against bottoming out. If the upper strut mount is cracked, loose, or has excessive play, replace it too. These parts keep the spring assembly stable and centered.

Step 5: Verify Correct Spring Fitment

If you've installed aftermarket springs or the car was lowered by a previous owner, confirm the spring rate, free length, and compressed length are correct for your application. A spring that's too short or too soft will bottom out easily. In some cases, going back to OEM-spec springs is the safest fix.

Step 6: Check Control Arm Bushings and Alignment

Worn bushings let the wheel move unpredictably under load. If your bushings are cracked or deteriorated, replace them and get a full alignment afterward. This restores proper wheel position and clearance.

What Mistakes Do People Make with This Problem?

Ignoring the noise: A rubbing or scraping sound over bumps often gets dismissed as "just a pothole." But if the spring is touching the tire, it will cut through the sidewall. Sidewall damage isn't repairable you need a new tire.
Only replacing the tire: If the spring caused the damage, a new tire will get destroyed the same way. Fix the suspension first.
Adding spacers or zip ties as a workaround: Some people try bumping out the spring with makeshift spacers. This doesn't address the actual failure and can make the spring seat unstable, leading to a worse problem.
Lowering the car further after the problem starts: Adding lowering springs or cut springs when clearance is already tight makes the contact worse.
Replacing only one spring: Springs on the same axle wear at similar rates. Replacing just one creates an uneven ride and unpredictable handling.

Is It Safe to Drive with the Coil Spring Touching the Tire?

No. A coil spring pressing against a tire sidewall can cause a blowout with very little warning. The sidewall is the thinnest, weakest part of the tire, and a steel spring under load will cut through it. Even light, intermittent contact will eventually cause failure. If you suspect the spring is touching the tire, avoid driving the car until the issue is diagnosed and repaired. If you must drive to a shop, go slowly, avoid potholes and bumps, and keep the distance short.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix This?

The cost depends on what needs replacing:

Coil spring replacement (pair): $200–$600 for parts and labor, depending on the vehicle and whether it's front or rear.
Strut mount replacement: $150–$400 per side, including parts and labor.
Bump stop replacement: Often done alongside strut or spring work for $20–$50 in parts.
Control arm bushings: $100–$300 per side for parts and labor.
Alignment: $80–$120, required after most suspension work.

Doing the work yourself can cut costs significantly if you have the right tools, including a spring compressor. But compressing coil springs is dangerous work if you're not experienced, leave it to a professional mechanic.

Practical Checklist: Stop Coil Spring from Hitting Tire

Inspect all four coil springs for cracks, breaks, sagging, or incorrect seating.
Check bump stops and upper strut mounts for wear or collapse.
Measure tire-to-spring clearance at rest and compare both sides.
Replace any damaged springs in pairs with correct OEM-spec or properly rated aftermarket parts.
Replace bump stops and strut mounts if worn don't reuse old ones during spring replacement.
Inspect control arm bushings and replace if deteriorated.
Verify the car hasn't been lowered beyond safe suspension travel limits.
Get a four-wheel alignment after any suspension component replacement.
Inspect the tire sidewall for rub marks or cuts replace the tire if the sidewall is compromised.
Test drive over bumps at low speed to confirm the noise and contact are resolved before driving normally.