If you are a regular reader of this blog, and I hope you are, you know I have written about pot hole damage and who pays, before. You know, if your car is damaged on a state owned and operated road, you are on your own. As Jack Harper reported tonight .. there is no law forcing the state to be responsible. But, not so cities and towns .. and, as a matter of fact, some will reimburse you.
If you lose a tire or suffer any damage to your car the result of a pothole the first thing to do is call them local police. Even though they can't help you file a claim, they can make a record of the hole and follow procedure for getting it filled. They can also tell you if the road is maintained by the local municipality, and, if it is ... your next call is to the city or town hall. The clerk's should be able to direct you to the office responsible for taking your claim. Usually, its the Alermen or Board of Selectmen. You'll likely have to write a letter and submit a bill, and re-imbursement could take weeks, depending on how often the governing body meets, but, it's the only chance of getting help for a situation that you didn't cause.
Good luck and happy motoring.