I hit a big pothole today on the highway. It made a loud "boom". It's the passenger front tire. I didn't blow the tire and didn't bent the rim, I think. Should I be worried? My TL drives normal. Sometimes when you hit a pothole your mind tricks you into thinking there's something wrong when there's not.

 

Considering the speeds that your TL can get to, and the temptation to use all that horsepower, your best bet is to go to a tire shop and have it checked. Probably they won't charge you, but even if you spend $10, it would be a good investment which could prevent an accident, injury, or loss of life.

 

If I want to check it myself, what should I look for?

 

Please look on the inside lip of the rim too, I hit a pot hole a few months ago and the outside lip of the rim was fine but the inside of the rim was dented and I replaced the rim. Better safe then sorry. Big pothole on the GCP.

 

Is turning the wheel all the way to the left or right the best way to check the inside lip of the rim without taking the wheel off?

Should I be worried about the suspension also?

 

yes I turned the wheel and kept moving the car up slowly to check and sure enough I found the dent on the inside lip. I took it to the dealer they checked the suspension the tire and the rim. They said the suspension was okay and the tire was okay, but said the rim had to be replaced. The dent was not that bad to me, but I didnt want to take a chance.

 

How much does it take to check it at the dealer?

 

They didnt charge me to check. They didnt force me to replace the rim either, but they did reccomend it. I hade to pay for the rim though. $283.00

 

Is pushing down on the fender right above the front tire a good way to check the suspension? Do I risk denting the fender?

 

take it to the dealer is your best bet, pushing a fendor is not checking the suspension

 

When you have a bent rim can you feel it when your driving?

 

A significant bend in a rim effectively results in an out-of-balance tire/wheel assembly out of balance. So you should feel it through the steering wheel at highway speed (shimmy), particularly since the tire you're concerned about is in front. If you have no shimmy, either the rim is fine, or the damage is minimal.