Pothole + Tyre = Very expensive :(

IAmATeaf

IAmATeaf

IAmATeaf

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3 Apr 2007
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South of the Watford Gap!
Hit a pothole on the way to work yesterday morning, one that I'd normally be able to avoid but timings meant that a car was coming the other way, managed to slow the car down to what I think was around 15mph but still heard and almighty Ga-Dunk!

Now at this point I should have really got out and checked but being in driving to work mode I carried on. In slower moving traffic I noticed a noise that coincided with the revolution of the wheel, so the frequency would increase as I speeded up etc...

Being an idiot I decided that it was all in mind, hit the A40, sped up to around 40mph, no more noise, so floored it up the A40, got a few miles and just before the turn off I'd normally get off at both the car and the steering wheel started vibrating, which started to get worse and worse, slowed down to around 30mph and nursed the car off at the next junction.

Tyre was completely shredded and I think given that I'd been an idiot I've had a lucky escape. I've had both the fronts replaced now, they were due to be replaced soon anyway. To add insult to the cost, on the way back home yesterday I decided I'd stop and take a few pics but Highways have been round and filled the damned thing in.

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Minstadave said:
That's repairable.
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lol :p gaffa tape? (we actually used gaffa tape on bicycle wheels in a 24hr pedal cart race as we went through too many tyres too fast so wrapped them in tape to make them last a bit longer... HA! and we were going so slow grip wasn't an issue :p )


that's some nasty gashing from a pot hole.... and all on the tyre wall too :eek: :confused: guessing it was more a case of being right on the edge and sliding the tyre wall against the wall of the pot hole on the way down and up. :(

but at least you're fine and it didn't go KA-BOOM at an awkward moment! :)
 
Still worth photographing the filled pothole and trying to claim, Howard on here managed to claim after it was filled and just shows it obviously was a danger!

Nasty though - I would definately get the rest of the suspension etc. checked out as well as a thump that hard could have done more damage than just a tyre :(
 
Also if the pothole was marked with spray paint then I don't think you have any chance at compensation as it was marked, something I heard a while back so not sure if its still true or was ever true, worth a shot still.
 
IAmATeaf said:
I've had both the fronts replaced now, they were due to be replaced soon anyway. To add insult to the cost, on the way back home yesterday I decided I'd stop and take a few pics but Highways have been round and filled the damned thing in.
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That was the second thing I noticed after the crispy sidewall... ;)
 
The pothole had been marked with green paint but as far as I recall it was marked quite a while ago.
 
Make a freedom of information request to your local authority requesting the date in which it was last filled (you already know this but do it anyway) and also the last time it was checked etc. there are more precise questions to ask. I'll have a look into them.

e; Seems its harder than I thought. http://www.potholes.co.uk/claims/step_by_step_guide Have a read of that. You want to follow that but as you haven't got photographic evidence you want to find out when it was marked and when it was filled.
 
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If they knew about it and damage was caused whilst they were dragging their heels getting it fixed then your claim is likely to be successful. Just write to them and fill in their claim form exactly as they ask and provide evidence - pics of damage, pics of the fresh repair, exact time and date and location, and politely request reimbursement for the cost of the tyres.

Worked for me.
 
Even if it gets rejected, you haven't lost out too much, looking at those wear bars!

I thought I'd done the same the other day. Basically ended up braking hard into a pothole. Was convinced I'd knackered something the noise it made! Appear to have gotten away with it though!
 
Howard said:
If they knew about it and damage was caused whilst they were dragging their heels getting it fixed then your claim is likely to be successful. Just write to them and fill in their claim form exactly as they ask and provide evidence - pics of damage, pics of the fresh repair, exact time and date and location, and politely request reimbursement for the cost of the tyres.

Worked for me.
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And get your wheels checked make sure they're aligned correctly (although I'm going to assume they did this when they fitted the new tyres)
 
I would also like to add that if you see a vicious-looking pot hole on your travels, I would encourage you to report it to the relevant local council. Surrey County Council have a handy form on their website here and I've reported loads through it. They've been sorted within a few days without fail.
 
That looks a right state :/
How'd you not realise? looks like you were running on the rim lol

as above I'd be talking to the local council, after your pics they may not reimburse the tyre but and damage caused to the alloy/steering/alignment I think they should stump up for.
 
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