[SiBradbury]

I've had to put my old wheels back my car because whilst replacing my pads and discs yesterday I realised that the pothole that had nearly rattled my fillings out early this week has dented my front and rear passenger side wheels on the inner edge (a wheels weakest point).
I was getting a small vibration through the car at around 70 mph and its now clear why!

I've heard of people claiming from their local council for the cost of replacing wheels damaged by potholes, has anyone had any success with this? There were no warning signs regarding the road surface and the pothole was not visible in the rainy conditions. To make it worse the wheels have been discontinued by Wolfrace so buying a pair is not an option!

[DJC]

I would go back to the pothole "site" with a digital camera and a 12 " ruler, take some general pictures of the pothole, with the ruler in shot to give a idea of its size, and then some other shots of the pothole in relation to the whole road. Then give the local council a call and find out who to send the pictures to, and ask them to sort you out asap ! My dad did a similar thing about 10 years ago, and they paid to replace two tyres due to bad road conditions. Good luck, regards Damian.

[LMB]

12" rule relates to how wide the pothole is right?

Good luck Si. Nothing ****es me off more than ****ing potholes !!

[DJC]

I meant that you use the 12" ruler as a guide for scale, to show how big the pothole is.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJC

I would go back to the pothole "site" with a digital camera and a 12 " ruler, take some general pictures of the pothole, with the ruler in shot to give a idea of its size, and then some other shots of the pothole in relation to the whole road. Then give the local council a call and find out who to send the pictures to, and ask them to sort you out asap ! My dad did a similar thing about 10 years ago, and they paid to replace two tyres due to bad road conditions. Good luck, regards Damian.

exactly what someone I know did, took a ruler and fag packet to show how deep and wide the hole was, also worth getting the weather report for the day it happened. So they can't turn round and say they did an inspection a few days before hand but the road was wet and the hole full or some other feeble excuse

[SiBradbury]

Thanks for all the suppor! I'd already gone to measure and photograph the offending pothole after posting my question only to find that it had been filled in! Bugger! I'll just have to find another one

[SiBradbury]

By the way, does anyone know of a company which can repair alloys which have flat spots in them? I know of plenty who repair kerb damage but i'm not sure about more structural damage. Cheers in advance guys!

[mooneymini]

around my way we have so many awful potholes. i started feeling vibrations through the steering and took it to my local tyre place to be fully balanced front and back, and now can feel vibrations from slow speeds aswell. its awful!
my tyre place would have told me if the wheels were damaged surly though?
what else could make these vibrations? its going in to the dealers on wednesday for an mot so wondering whether i should mention it

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by mooneymini

around my way we have so many awful potholes. i started feeling vibrations through the steering and took it to my local tyre place to be fully balanced front and back, and now can feel vibrations from slow speeds aswell. its awful!
my tyre place would have told me if the wheels were damaged surly though?
what else could make these vibrations? its going in to the dealers on wednesday for an mot so wondering whether i should mention it

Just take the car back to where you had the wheels balanced and tell them that its worse than before (i'm assuming it is now that you can feel the vibrations at low speeds). A balance weight may have fallen off or it may not have been done properly in the first place. If thats the case then you shouldn't be charged second time round.
You probably will be charged much more at the dealers!

[nylo]

I went over a huge, sharp edged pothole on my S spokes almost a year ago, bursting the tyre. Wrote to the council, who passed my complaint on to the outside contractor, who passed it on to their subcontractor...

And I'm still waiting. Must chase that up actually...

[SiBradbury]

Just thought i'd revive this thread by asking again if anyone knows any companies that repair physically damaged alloys (flat spot)

[Nick666]

I could be wrong but I imagine most reputable companies wont touch that kind of damage because it will have significantly weakend the alloy's structural integrity and therefore the wheel couldn't be trusted to hold up if for example the same thing happened again.

I don't think I'd trust it either! You'd be safer to get another one I'd have thought.

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nick666

I could be wrong but I imagine most reputable companies wont touch that kind of damage because it will have significantly weakend the alloy's structural integrity and therefore the wheel couldn't be trusted to hold up if for example the same thing happened again.

I don't think I'd trust it either! You'd be safer to get another one I'd have thought.

Apparently there are companies who can heat treat the area before it's repaired to guarantee structural integrity. This, of course, would only work for minor flat spots such as the ones I have suffered!

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nick666

I don't think I'd trust it either! You'd be safer to get another one I'd have thought.

PS i need two. And they're discontinued

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by sibradbury

PS i need two. And they're discontinued

I am pretty sure Mini Cruiser did the same thing to her Khans and got them fixed. Send her a PM.

[SiBradbury]

Thanks very much! I will!

[SiBradbury]

Decided today that i'll probably not buy 18's again. My car drives SO much better on it's standard 16's! I did like the look of the bigger wheels but i don't think i'd go bigger that 17's in future.

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by sibradbury

Decided today that i'll probably not buy 18's again. My car drives SO much better on it's standard 16's! I did like the look of the bigger wheels but i don't think i'd go bigger that 17's in future.

I kinda of agree and have said I'd never by 18" wheels again. Trouble is they do look so good.

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

I kinda of agree and have said I'd never by 18" wheels again. Trouble is they do look so good.

If only i could invent a way to shrink the car........

[SiBradbury]

******UPDATE*******

Had a letter from Zurich, the councils insurers today. Despite Zurich advising their client, the council, to settle on best terms, they have been instructed to tell me that the council decided that they are not liable for any damages because the road was inspected three months earlier and found to be ok!!!!

Call me old-fashioned, but surely the council are responsible for the condition of our roads the other 364 days of the year too?

Why should i suffer because of the date that they choose to inspect the roads?

Had they checked the day, week, or even month before or after the incicent they would have found the same damage to the road!
In fact they did check a week or so afterwards and decided the hole was big enough to warrant filling in!

How long before or after their inspection would i have had the incident for them to have been deemed liable?

Small claims court beckons i think! Stuff like this makes me so mad!!