Low-profile tyres aren't a scam. They're a trade-off, and Australian roads are now making that trade-off look very expensive. The Victorian Auditor-General found about 48 per cent of the state's road network was in poor or very poor condition in 2024, up from 39 per cent in 2021.
The response is coming. On 30 August the Victorian Government pledged an extra $352 million to double the potholes fixed this year from 250,000 to 500,000, mostly between now and January. Until then, the bill for every hit falls on drivers, and big wheels make it bigger.
How bad are Australia’s roads right now?
Bad enough to show in breakdown data. The Auditor-General's report, tabled on 9 September, found the gap between road defects recorded and repaired more than doubled from January 2025 to June 2026. ABC analysis found the Mornington Peninsula had the most unresolved pothole reports of any metro area.
Motorists are noticing. Potholes were the top complaint in RACV's 2026 My Country Road survey, raised by 71 per cent of 6,000-plus respondents. In regional NSW, the NRMA reported tyre and wheel callouts up as much as 17 per cent in major centres, with Dubbo up from 542 to 637.
Why do low-profile tyres damage wheels?
Because there's less rubber to absorb the hit. RACV says low-profile tyres are particularly vulnerable because they give less cushioning between the wheel and the road. Brake maker Bendix said in 2025 there's a greater likelihood of damaging wheels, suspension and braking components. The firmer ride is the everyday price.
Our calculation: tyre width multiplied by aspect ratio. Standard tyre sizes from Kia and Hyundai Australia specifications and CarExpert spec data for Ford, Tesla and Toyota, checked 14 October 2026. Sidewall is the rubber between the rim and the road.
Step up a grade and the sidewall shrinks. Our numbers show the Ford Everest Platinum's 21-inch tyres carry 31 per cent less sidewall than the Ambiente's 17s, and the Kia Sorento GT-Line loses 25 per cent on the base S. That rubber keeps a pothole edge off the rim.
What does a pothole hit cost?
More on bigger wheels. On the same Kumho Crugen HP71 tyre, Tyroola lists the 17-inch size at $225 and the 20-inch size at $379, even on sale. Queensland's Wheel Revolution lists crack repairs from $120 and straightening from $154, but a cracked factory wheel often needs replacing outright.
Genuine wheels hurt most. A Hastings tyre dealer told Trafnews in 2024 that replacement Mercedes-Benz wheels cost between $600 and $1,500 each. Insurance won't always help either: comprehensive policies often exclude tyre damage from road cuts or bursts, and the wheel claim still carries your excess.
Can you claim pothole damage from the government?
Rarely, and in Victoria the maths is against you. The state deducts a threshold of $1,681 in 2026–27 from any property damage payout, and the Department of Transport and Planning only covers arterial roads and freeways. Councils handle local roads and aren't liable if they met their road management plan.
Two tyres at $400 each and $350 to re-roll a bent rim, as reported by Trafnews in 2024.
Victoria deducts this from any property damage payout in 2026–27, and it can't be waived.
The bill sits $531 under the threshold, even if the road authority is found liable.
Sources: Trafnews (November 2024), Victorian Government notice of incident and claim page (updated 30 September 2026). Our calculation.
Other states differ. In NSW, Transport for NSW says it may not be liable for pothole damage unless it knew about the hazard and failed to act. Queensland's TMR wants proof it didn't take reasonable steps to maintain the road. Photograph the pothole and keep two repair quotes.
Do 20-inch wheels belong on a family SUV?
On smooth roads, they're fine. On the roads in that audit, they're a liability you pay for twice. If you're buying, consider the grade with more sidewall: the Kluger GX's 18s or the Everest Ambiente's 17s will shrug off what cracks a 20 or 21.
On big wheels already? Keep tyres at placard pressure, which RACV says helps absorb impacts, and don't brake while crossing a pothole. Check the alignment after a big hit, as our wheel alignment cost guide explains. Never fit a tyre below your placard's load rating.
The big wheel isn't a con. It's a styling choice designed for roads Australia doesn't maintain. Until those 500,000 potholes are filled, the smartest upgrade on a family SUV might be the one you don't tick. Our performance tyre guide covers the rubber if you keep them.
