What Happens to Your Car After Police Spike Strips – And Why It's More Complicated Than You Think

Police spike strips do exactly what they’re designed to do — stop a vehicle immediately. Unfortunately for the tyres involved, they don’t get a say in the matter.

When a car meets police spikes, the result is always the same: shredded tyres, zero air pressure, and a very slow, very careful trip to a workshop (or a tow truck ride). The good news? Police cover the cost. The bad news? It’s still hugely inconvenient, and the damage doesn’t always end with what you can see.

New tyres are a certainty — no debate there. Once a tyre has been spiked, it’s finished. End of story.

Where it gets tricky is with AWD and 4WD vehicles.

On these systems, tyres must be closely matched in size and wear. Replacing only two tyres might look fine today… but it can quietly put serious strain on the drivetrain, transfer case, centre differential, and axles. The real trap? Those problems usually don’t show up straight away. They appear weeks or months later, long after everyone has “moved on”.

This is why AWD vehicles often require all tyres to be replaced at the same time after a spike incident — even if only two look damaged.

If there’s pushback on replacing all four tyres, keep it simple and professional:

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Ask if they’re happy to sign off in writing on future transfer case or drivetrain damage.

If the answer is no — and it usually is — then the correct path is clear.

Make sure you get it documented. At least an email to their superior asking that they acknowledge this risk. Getting it documented isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about peace of mind, protecting the vehicle, and avoiding a very expensive “surprise” later on.

We see this most often around our Glen Waverly workshop where police have had to stop stolen vehicles along either Springvale road, Princes Highway or the Monash Freeway.

Police spikes stop cars fast. Proper tyre replacement stops much bigger problems down the road.