Coming home last night in my Mini, I usually take the same route home. Being that my car is so stiff, just about any bump or small pothole sounds like something's exploding. But in the 18 months, I've been blowout free. I know that the last time I serviced my car at Mini, they told me two wheels had a very slight bend, which I figured I would address eventually. I have a wheel and tire warranty on them that I paid for when I got the car, I would use the warranty to fix the bends and any cosmetic damage. Anywho, coming home last night, I'm driving on the Conduit before getting onto the parkway. There's an underpass that I drive through, and the left lane is riddled with potholes, and the right lane is relatively bump free. I wasn't able to get into the right lane because of too many cars, so I stayed in the left lane. Knowing that the bumps are there, anytime I have to take that lane I usually veer to the left to avoid the bumps, going over the street lines that they have as a shoulder. I've done it many times and have avoided the bumps. This is what it looks like:

If you look on the pavement, you'll see a whole lot of repairs done already, but there are a few small bumps that my car absorbs and amplifies by 10 because of how stiff my ride is:


These two potholes must have been a new occurrence from the bad weather we've been having because this was never there:




....and this was the effect:


As soon as I hit the pothole I was like WTF?? and within seconds my dash lit up "low tire". FML. Steering wasn't tracking straight, and it felt like I was driving on an oval tire. I still had a 17 mile highway drive to get home, and I was a little nervous to drive on the tires, but being run-flats, should be able to make the trip. The tear of the sidewall was what made me even more nervous. But I got on the highway, stayed in the right lane and didn't go over 50 mph. I called up my buddy at his shop, luckily he was still there. I dropped my car off and he said he would replace the tire for me in the morning.

He calls me this morning and said I need to come down to see what's happening. He can't mount the tire because the wheel was damaged pretty bad. I went there and this is what I saw:




He also said the rear wheel got bent pretty good from the impact too, but not bad enough where the tire can't hold air.

I don't see any damage to the suspension, and I really hope nothing else was damaged. I'm glad that I have the insurance, and I guess I should be satisfied that I made it 18 months before something like this happened. At this point I'm going to have to replace the one tire, both wheels on the left side that damaged from the impact, and I may as well do the right side too. I wonder how much the bill for this one to the insurance company is gonna be (I have $0 deductible).

 

I commend you guys who live in Ny who still mod their cars to make them look nice. I go to Ny about 3 - 4 times a year. Mostly to see my mom but also to enjoy Manhattan with my gf and such.

I hit potholes all the time and I cringe everytime I do. Sorry to hear about the rim but at least you have a good back up plan

 

Damn Eddie, it must be frustrating. I know you keep your cars in great shape, so it must be a real annoyance when damage is caused beyond your control.







Terry

 

i had three flats within a two week time frame...twice...with the CL.

move to miami. problem solved.

 

That sucks Eddie. Hopefully you recover.

 

omg... that looks worse than LA..

Sorry to hear that and hope you have no trouble fixing it.

 

I wish. I wanted to, and so did my wife. Then she saw how slooooow everyone moves on the local streets, she got discouraged. Sucks.

 

Which car? You have so many.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that it also busted one of my headlights. The pieces that hold the eyeball of the beam in place so it adjusts to motion, the impact pretty much shattered the tabs holding it in place. I just got my car back from the dealer last week from replacing both headlights from impact damage. Faaaaaaaaantastic.

 

That's crap. Will the city reimburse you? Some cities will, but considering everyone is broke these days, probably will take 3 years to get the check.

 

It's pretty bad in Jersey too, I had 3 flats in one month and 2 of them were 3 days apart from each other.

Sucks to hear you bent your wheel as well though.. best of luck bro.

 

I doubt NYC would reimburse the money.. if it did, it would lose so much money..

 

submit a claim to nyc dot... and send them the pics... they should get you a check too...

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_4579013_dama...york-city.html

http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/burea...aim_forms.shtm

 

Mini

 

Wowzers. That one wheel got beat up pretty bad.

Think I'll go out and hug my 60-series tires now.

 

 

I guess I should be glad that I didn't change my wheels to the summers yet....I was planning on doing it last week but didn't get around to doing it....

I also called the dealer and made an appointment for next week to replace the headlight - again.

 

Damn that sucks I know the feeling. I hit a similar pot hole last Friday and bent the lip on my one brand new wheel.

 

I feel your pain Shoofin! It sucks...

I love this city but this is the one thing that I can't stand, the roads are disgusting!

Good luck with everything.

 

A few weeks ago, I hit a pothole in Philly that must have been at least four miles deep. Thank God I was driving a rental car and I'm even happier that the tire didn't blow out, that's how hard of an impact it was. I saw the hole and jerked the wheel but it was too late. The car vibrated at freeway speeds after that...

 

Jeebus, I think you need a SUV. Give the Mini to your wife

 

There are a few in Chinatown that are about 5 miles deep.

 

wow thats a crazy bend ... looks like its time to replace that wheel, or just get a new set of wheels all together

 

by the time he decides on which SUV to get, the roads will be repaved


jk shoof

that really stinks. i dont dare take my slammed TL near the city. i always save the Forester for those trips.

 

Holy crap, that's REALLY bad. Sorry to hear.

I've seen some gnarly gashes from people getting their tires cut open or driving into a curb but from a pothole? Never like that... same with bends a normal tire probably would have lost the bead right on the spot.

 

I do feel your pain. I have at least two, perhaps three, wheels in my garage now with bends in them.

 

wow.....that is outta control...luckily there was no other damage..

 

Holy crap...it sure makes me appreciate little ole Kansas City a lot more....




.

 

Time to go 50 series tires next time on the mini. or 55!

 

That's awful! I don't know if I've ever seen a rim damaged that bad. Bet you're happy you got the wheel and tire insurance the dealer always tries to sell. I hit one last summer that resulted in $600 in out of pocket damage.

 

damn that sucks, I know over here we can submit something to caltrans to see if they would reimburse you. Can you do the same for your states transportation department? Although your insurance is covering it. Ask your insurance to submit a report? Dunno if they would do that.

 

i kind of like the meaty tire look..

 

Drive the same route on the Conduit everyday, I feel your pain. 2 bent rims right now as well, one in the trunk. Can't wait til they fix these roads

 

dayyyyum that sucks hopefully every thing gets worked out!

 

I can relate....I bend my rims quite often here in Dallas.

Im actually considering after these tires wear out putting my stock wheels back on. Its just become too much of a pain.

 

the good ol dallas cittytitties...

 

Been there and done that too... Glad that you kept control of the car and nothing worse happened. Try to file the claim to NYC DOT... hey, you have nothing to lose.

 

does insurance cover wheel and tire damage because of a pot hole?

 

I doubt it...


But to give you all an update, I'll think about making a claim with the city...I doubt I'll get anywhere though. I'm still waiting for an inspector to come and look at the damage on all 4 wheels. Sucks, I kinda miss my car now