Did I damage my axles?

If you have the normal Yokohama price in hand when you go to the dealer, that could help you get a better price if his Toyota tax is outrageous. It's fortunate that Prius tires are reasonably price to start with.

 

Yokohama is a very good brand, no worries. It's also more important that your new tire be the same as the other three than what brand it is.

 

If you drove on a flat tire for a mile, even at low speed, it is probably damaged. You can't always tell by looking at the outside of the tire if it is damaged or not.

I would recommend taking the car to a reputable tire store or a Toyota dealer and have the tire dismounted and checked. You should also have them look under the car, they can check to make sure the car was not damaged by placing the jack in the wrong place.

If you need to replace the tire it is best to use one that is the same as the other three.

 

Ok DOC:mod:

 

If it were me I'd just tell them exactly what happened.

Be sure to check with your insurance company this kind of damage may be covered.

 

I understand what you are saying but it is not really a question of rather it's your fault or not, it's a question of rather the warranty covers it or not. In the case of a road hazard I would really be surprised if it did, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I think it would be more likely that your insurance would cover it.

In the case of the tire they should have given you a little booklet from the tire manufacturer, tire warranties are usually not worth much but ask about that also. If you have to buy a tire, which you probably will, you can find the exact one you need from this site:
Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels
But it will take a few days, they will ship to a tire store near you for installation usually at about half the price a car dealer charges for a tire.

 

I would tell the dealership exactly what occurred, and have them lift the car up to look underneath. You may have caused some significant damage to more than just your tire.

Regarding the warranty policies that you purchased, I would not think that any of them would cover road hazards. However, your Auto Insurance Policy may, and if so, thay may be able to cover the entire cost associated with this, minus your deductible.

Also, you mention the horrendous conditions of the road. Around here, where road construction season, or pothole season somes around, some damage is covered by the city of Chicago, or the State of Illinois, if they are the ones causing the road hazards, either by neglect, or current work. If this applies to you, it may be worth your time to call the (City/State/county) who maintains that section of road, and see what if anything they could recommend. Could you take pictures of the road conditions?

As for the tires, I agree with the others here. Yokohama tires are as highly regarded today as any other mainstream tire brand. I would suggest that you only replace the one that was damaged, instead of all 4. Overall the tires that were shipped with your car were selected for their MPG capabilities, and handling. Not saying you cannot get better, that's always an option, but may be unnecessary.

 

If your roads are that bad, an SUV might be a better option for you.

Tom

 

I would think that the utility companies would be responsible for the damage to your vehicle, and all the costs related to it. Whether you choose to keep your car, or go to the other extreme with the SUV, you will probably want to consider asking them to make you good on the damage that they seem to have caused your vehicle.

 

What's wrong with putting the spare on? Do people not know how to change a tire?

 

Warranty's not going to cover damage caused by things you run over or hit. Thats what insurance is for. You probably have a claim to get the city to cover any damage...but good luck getting them to do it.

I think your "acceleration issues" are in your head because you're hyper-sensitive about every little thing about the car since this happened. The plug in the tire isn't going to create anything you can feel from the cockpit.

I'm sure the car is fine, cars are tough. Get the tire replaced and stop worrying about it.

Not a thing. However you've paid for roadside assistance with the vehicle...why go to the effort when someone else can do it?