If your tire has multiple clean, straight wounds along the tire wall, it has probably been slashed. In that case, you’ll want to collect as much evidence as you can, file a police report, and report the incident to your car insurance provider.

There are few sights as unwelcome to car owners as that of a slashed tire. Whether it happens in your driveway or in a parking lot, you’ll be stuck where you are and feel pretty frustrated. But, how do you tell if your tire was slashed or it was just regular wear and tear?

Jerry

, the

car insurance

expert and

trusted comparison tool

, is walking you through how to tell if your tires were slashed or blown. We’ll tell you some of the telltale differences between slashed and blown tires and—if you determine that your tires met their end at the pointy end of someone’s knife—the steps you need to take to prove someone slashed your tires.

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Signs your tire was slashed

Before you jump the gun and call the cops to file a report, you should get a little familiar with what a slashed tire—as opposed to a blown one—looks like. Here’s a rough idea of what a slashed tire looks like.

MORE:

Does car insurance cover slashed tires?

Multiple clean cuts

Slashed tires commonly have clean, straight wounds. Imagine if someone grabbed a piece of paper, held it upright and taut, and you ran a knife through it several times—those are the kind of markings you’d find on a slashed tire.

A slashed tire is rarely cut just once, so keep an eye out for a group or smattering of these kinds of cuts.

If you see these kinds of markings on your tire, check the surrounding area for stray sharp objects, like a box cutter or nail. Tire slashing is usually done quickly and in the heat of the moment, so it’s possible the perpetrator grabbed a nearby object instead of bringing their own knife. Finding the weapon nearby can be a huge help when filing a police report later on.

Damage to rim and along tire wall

Chances are, a would-be tire slasher isn’t haunting local parking lots with a mechanic creeper on hand, ready to slide under your vehicle to get to the innermost part of your tire. The most likely spot for a tire slasher to strike is along the tire wall.

Not only is the tire wall outward-facing and thus easily accessible, but it’s also the softest and thinnest part of your tire, making it extremely vulnerable.

Slashing tires is messy work, so your rim may get caught in the crossfire as well. If you notice clean, straight cuts along the tire wall and damage to the tire rim, evidence would suggest that you’re the victim of vandalism.

MORE:

Will insurance cover a flat tire?

Completely flat tire

A slashed tire will deflate much faster than a blown tire. Depending on the severity of the damage, a slashed tire can go from full to flat in a matter of seconds.

If your tire looks less like a donut and more like a pancake, then it was probably slashed.

Signs your tire blew out

You may have heard the phrase “when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” Meaning, that just because something goes wrong with your tire does not automatically mean that it happened at the hands of someone else—or that it was your fault. There are a couple of things that differentiate a slashed tire from a blown one.

MORE: What to do if your tire blows out

Worn out tire tread

A thinner tire tread is much more susceptible to blowing than a newer one. If you’ve noticed that your tire treads were looking a little bald, it’s more likely that your tire blew.

Irregular, jagged wound(s)

Unlike the clean, straight wounds you’d see from slashing, a blown tire will have one giant, irregular wound. Just like earlier, imagine you are holding a piece of paper up in the air. But, instead of cutting it with a knife, imagine ripping a hole in the middle with your hands. That’s the kind of craggy, uneven opening you can expect on a blown tire.

MORE:

Nail in tire? How to remove and repair a puncture

Dangling pieces of rubber

Although slashing a tire is messy work, it is positively orderly in comparison to a blown tire. After it blows, your tire will look torn and be hanging off the tread. Keep in mind that a blown tire is something that just exploded, so it will certainly look like it has!

Tire bulge

Perhaps the most telltale sign of a blown tire is the presence of a tire bulge. A hole or small puncture wound in your tire causes this little blister to form along the sidewall, so feel around for it before determining whether your tire was slashed or blown.

How to prove someone slashed your tires

If after careful examination you conclude that your tires have been slashed, you’ll want to seek justice. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Check for CCTV footage

Camera footage can be invaluable in any police investigation. If the slashing occurred somewhere like a parking lot, tell someone who works there what happened right away. They may be able to help you get your hands on CCTV footage which could help identify the vandal.

Or, if the slashing occurred in your home driveway, check your home security footage if you have a system in place.

MORE:

How to read a tire

Ask around

Gathering witnesses is a pivotal part of proving your tires were slashed. A signed witness statement is a golden ticket in a tire-slashing investigation, so ask bystanders if they saw anything go down while you were away from your vehicle.

A tire slashing in your driveway can perhaps feel a little more targeted and unsettling. In that case, ask your neighbors if they’ve seen anyone suspicious lurking around or if they’ve been the recent victims of tire slashings as well.

Document the damage

You will need to be able to provide a clear picture of what happened for both the police report and your insurance claim, so take as many photos and videos of the entire scene—not just the damaged tire—as you can.

It’s helpful to capture visuals from different angles to make sure you’re including as much information as possible.

MORE: How low can your tire pressure go?

File a police report

Now, with all of your evidence in hand, it’s time to call your local police department to report the crime. You’ll need to bring:

Your

vehicle registration

Any signed witness statements you were able to gather

Photos and videos of the scene

Be prepared to answer some basic questions about when and where the incident occurred and how many tires were slashed. Slashing tires is usually a misdemeanor (which may be punished by fines or even jail time), and the police department will act accordingly.

File a claim with your insurance provider

The last step in proving that someone slashed your tires is to file a claim with your insurance. Give them a phone call and explain to them what happened, and be ready to provide them with your police report.

Now, the million-dollar question: will your car insurance cover slashed tires? The answer lies with what kind of insurance coverage level you’ve got.

Comprehensive

and

collision

coverage should help offset the cost of repairs, but liability coverage alone will leave you high and dry in the event your vehicle is damaged.

MORE:

Collision vs. comprehensive car insurance

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