Car pulls right.

Problem is you have obviously been driving in a Blue State. Try heading south and see if changes once you get to the Red States.

Another check would to be to swap locations for the tire and see what happens. There is actually a science of sorts to this, but I do not remember it.

I am sure if you google tire pulls to one side or tire belt slipping, or tire bubble, Tire Rack or some other site will have a diagram that will tell you where to put the suspect tire to investigate this further.

But, all seriousness aside, do you have any reason to suspect that the "experts do not know what they are talking about."

You could try a second shop.

 

Sounds to me like you need some new tires (replace both of them.) I could tell you where to take it here for an honest opinion (Discount tire, Pepboys, Midas) but you probably don't have any of those in upstate NY. I wouldn't drive far on tires with a tread separation, they can go catastrophically Boom!

 

So, the pot hole poped the right tire and possibly bent the tie rod or broke the shock or something similar, and you have a tire with a seperated or broken belt, and the car pulls to one side, either apply a sticky band aid or take it to either a toyota dealer for assessment and alignment and tires, or get tires (4) then go to either a good alignment shop or a toyota dealer for parts and an alignment.

Of course a really, really sticky band aid may suffice.

 

I wish you were closer. I'd help you with the front end problems no charge (except for parts.) You will at least need a replacement rim. A Toyota Echo rim may work. You sound like a young person (high school?) I'm assuming you are, I highly endorse these little gems for H/S & College students. Nice cars, safe and economical.

You most likely don't need 4 new tires. You could get used tires but be careful about the tires age. Read up on the internet about how to find the manufacture date on the sidewalls. I've not heard the term "shifted belt" but I'd assume that they think the belt is broken and that's why there's a bulge. Not a good situation.

I got some tires at the local u pull it wrecking yard for $25 and they included rims.

You could get some inexpensive tires at Walmart. Douglas is a really good off brand tire. They also sell Goodyear, Arriva or Achieva or something like that. It's a tire that only Walmart sells. I put one on my 03, I think it was about $50 plus mounting. If you were my relative, I'd probably buy a pair for you in a NY minute--maybe your parents or a favorite uncle?

 

We had that pull to the right once (with previous car), and a left-right swap of the front tires dispelled it, at least for a bit, can't recall if it came back. The term the tire shop used was "conicity".

 

I don't think I said that. Take it to a front end shop and have them look at it. At very least, from what you've said, it needs a new wheel and tire. Maybe more.

 

The low hanging fruit is to just swap the front tires side-to-side, see what happens. Very easy to do, so a good first step.

 

Google your nearest junk yard, ask about used 15" wheels 5-100 bolt pattern 40 offset, a prius wheel, ask about 195/65 15 used tires, then go to toyota for an alignment, they will replace anything bent, you have a tire with a broken belt, you have a car with a damaged front right, 12553, on 87 just below 95, lot's of junk yard choices.

 

Great, now the car is still going to go right, so the tie rod, if you buy it at napa and eye the tires (adjust the new tie rod ) with the front end in the air you can drive for an alignment, and the alignment shop will find any other damaged parts.
Yes a toyota dealer would've raped you but it would be a factory quality job, using alternate parts is perfectly fine, as long as you align.