Tyre sidewall damage - important?

qwerty · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:40

Story:

I was driving to a golf match at about 6 am Saturday morning. I get onto a nice bit of sigle carriageway A-road and TomTom says 'Stay on this road for 14 miles'. So I get up to a 'nice' cruising speed. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a roundabout appears! It wasn't on TomTom and it was a full on big 'un. I managed to make the left turn to avoid the round about itself, but couldnt get the car to go back right so I hit the kerb on the outside of the roundabout. The car slid sideways for a bit, but didn't spin, and I pulled over down the road a bit.

The damage:

Fortunately the kerb was slightly sloped, but still pretty high. My front left alloy is damaged, and a fair amount of rubber has been knocked off the sidewall of the tyre itself. If I take it to KwikFit, I'm sure they'll say I need a new tyre, even if its not badly damaged because they want the money. Therefore I want to ask all of you if its likely that I'll need a new tyre.

Dolph · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:44

Yes, get a new tyre.

Taking chances to save a bit of cash on the single biggest safety point on any car is foolish.

Muffin` · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:44

Got any pics? If there is chunks missing chances are you have weakend the side wall.

jamief · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:45

I think this highlights the need to still look at road signs whilst using sat nav

Jon Frost · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:55

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a roundabout appears!

hahahaha. Did it jump out from behind a tree?

HEADRAT · 18 Feb 2008 at 11:56

Jon Frost said:
hahahaha. Did it jump out from behind a tree?

I do hate it when those roundabouts do that

Sounds like you need to pay more attention to the road and less trusting your TomTom!

As for the tyre get a new one!

paradigm · 18 Feb 2008 at 12:01

So, a "full on big 'un" mother of a roundabout, you completely failed to see?

You 100% sure you should be driving at all?

Booner! · 18 Feb 2008 at 12:24

I took mine to a garage after kurbing my wheel and taking a chunk out of the rear tire. My local garage said that it was fine as you can't see any webbing or tire wall.

I trust his judgement and haven't had a problem with it for about 3000 miles, couple of months

Jon Frost · 18 Feb 2008 at 12:32

You trust a bwoi from kwick fit?

Booner! · 18 Feb 2008 at 12:33

Jon Frost said:
You trust a bwoi from kwick fit?

Didn't use kwick Fit... as I said, I used a garage (by which I mean a proper garage!) which I bought the car from.

Muffin` · 18 Feb 2008 at 12:34

Jon Frost said:
You trust a bwoi from kwick fit?

I would agree. How much of an increase is there of a blow out even with no wire showing?

Overlag · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:13

Jon Frost said:
hahahaha. Did it jump out from behind a tree?

the roundabout i hit did.... :mad:

missed the center but slammed brakes on as it was heading off into the kurb anyway and needed to loose speed. damage just 2 wheels+ tires as i had "aimed" my car between a lamppost and a road sign.

Thank god i didnt kill no one.

Richard_16v · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:36

Seriously, what do you say if you run someone down - TomTom didn't tell me a person was crossing 100yrds ahead!

Watch the road, if your driving fast enough to not be able to stop for a great big roundabout then watch the road even harder.

Booner! · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:42

I don't think he posted for a lecture.... or driving lessons.. we all make mistakes.

Maybe just stick to advising him with the problem at hand?

Richard_16v · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:45

Come on, this whole place would be like a ghost town if everyone followed that logic!

In that case - buy a new tyre, better to be on the safe side.

jamief · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:45

Booner! said:
I don't think he posted for a lecture.... or driving lessons.. we all make mistakes.

Maybe just stick to advising him with the problem at hand?

OH NO! Someone went slightly OT on a forum.

He nearly crashed his car (or rather, he DID crash it) because he wasn't paying attention whilst driving at high speed - of course he is going to have people commenting on that.

Jon Frost · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:47

Richard_16v said:
buy a new car, better to be on the safe side.

I agree.

Clarkey · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:48

Booner! said:
I don't think he posted for a lecture.... or driving lessons.. we all make mistakes.

Maybe just stick to advising him with the problem at hand?

hardly a little mistake though is it, this is the huge mother of all mistakes :/

Booner! · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:49

jamief said:
OH NO! Someone went slightly OT on a forum.

He nearly crashed his car (or rather, he DID crash it) because he wasn't paying attention whilst driving at high speed - of course he is going to have people commenting on that.

Yeh I agree and feel the same way...but I doubt it is the sort of comments I would want to be reading when actually I want to know info/answers to a problem.

It wasn't just the one person, I just felt it was harsh for everyone to keep posting "omg watch the road" "retake your test" "your not safe to drive" comments...

Richard_16v · 18 Feb 2008 at 13:50

Jon Frost said:
I agree.

What are you going on about? Why would I say buy a new car? Although if you go round hitting curbs hard enough to damage your tyre and wheel then you may want to look at getting the alignment checked as a minimum.