A tire damage detection method includes a preliminary stage comprising: performing tests involving test tire impacts against/on different obstacles at different motor vehicle speeds; measuring/acquiring test-related wheel speeds during the performed tests; computing test-related normalized wheel speeds based on the test-related wheel speeds; and determining a predefined tire damage model based on the test-related normalized wheel speeds corresponding to the test tire impacts and of associated test-related average wheel speeds. A tire damage detection stage comprises: acquiring signals indicative of a motor vehicle wheel speed; computing, based on quantities indicative of the wheel speed, a normalized wheel speed indicative of a ratio of the wheel speed to an average wheel speed indicative of motor vehicle speed; and detecting potential damage to a tire of the wheel based on the predefined tire damage model and on the normalized wheel speed.