Cracked alloy wheel coating

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:53 am

Hit a massive pothole going round a roundabout on the way to work this morning. Great way to start my first day back after being on holiday!

My wheel must have either hit the side of the pothole or the edge of the pavement when I came out of the hole and I have cracked the coating on my left rear wheel. Some of it has come completely off and there are also a few cracks.

Is it possible to repair this kind of damage or will I need to fork out for a brand new wheel?

I'm thinking of going to the council for compensation about this. It's their fault for not repairing potholes! Grrrrrr!

Cheers,
D

Post by **simon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:02 am

dezzy wrote:I'm thinking of going to the council for compensation about this. It's their fault for not repairing potholes! Grrrrrr!

You might find they say it's only their fault if they knew about it and didn't repair it. Ask Greg if he's any suggestions. I'd go for a new alloy if I were you, sounds like that one has taken a hell of a bang to do that to it.

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:37 am

Cheers Simon. I'm definitely going to get a new alloy. Only had the car 3 weeks!

I'm going to photograph the pot hole and the damage to my wheel on the way home tonight.

Greg - will send you a PM for some advice.

Titanium S1 111S (gla) · Post by **Titanium S1 111S (gla)** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:27 pm

Definitely go for a new wheel, may have been bent.

Make sure you get the old one back as well though, even if it needs a dent taken out it is probably fixable at relatively low cost and you never know when you might not have someone else to blame (send the bill to).

Stick a ruler in the hole and across the hole when you are photographing it.

Graham

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:14 pm

Titanium S1 111S (gla) wrote:
Stick a ruler in the hole and across the hole when you are photographing it.

I knew you were a Pursuer...

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:06 pm

If the wheels badly damaged then the tyre must be too, and if you need one new tyre then you might need two, because you don't want unevenly worn tyres on the back.

I've had this happen to me before and have recieved 'compensation' from the council for a new tyre and damaged wheel. (non Elise)

Good luck.

Titanium S1 111S (gla) · Post by **Titanium S1 111S (gla)** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:49 pm

GregR wrote:

Stick a ruler in the hole and across the hole when you are photographing it.

I knew you were a Pursuer...

Never done a reparation case in me life!
But not far from needing new tires on the back so might go looking for pot-holes and give it a go.

Ohh me neck!

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:14 pm

MacK wrote:If the wheels badly damaged then the tyre must be too.

Surprisingly, the tyre seems okay. Will check it properly later, but it seems alright. It's just caught the edge of the wheel without ripping the rubber on the tyre.

Getting a new wheel fitted on Friday. Thought it was going to be a hassle getting through to Edinburger, but just found out my company's new Edinburgh office is just over the railway line from MMC, so will just work from there that day. Perfect!

Cheers,
D

Post by **Shug** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:16 pm

dezzy wrote:
MacK wrote:If the wheels badly damaged then the tyre must be too.
Surprisingly, the tyre seems okay. Will check it properly later, but it seems alright. It's just caught the edge of the wheel without ripping the rubber on the tyre.

Getting a new wheel fitted on Friday. Thought it was going to be a hassle getting through to Edinburger, but just found out my company's new Edinburgh office is just over the railway line from MMC, so will just work from there that day. Perfect!

Cheers,
D

There's more of a chance that it's done deeper damage - like damaging the plys of the tyre, which may or may not show up (until it blows out)

You won't necessarily see tyre damage (although you may see a bulge in the area)

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:20 pm

Cheers Shug. Will inspect it tonight and ask MMC to take a closer look when getting the new wheel fitted.

Mr Momo · Post by **Mr Momo** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:17 pm

and check the suspension when the wheel is off

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:25 pm

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:44 pm

Took a trip back to the scene of the crime last night . . .

Turns out it probably wasn't the hole that did the damage. I think what has happened is that I was trying to avoid a pothole on the right of the car and therefore moved to the left. When I moved to the left, I've clunked into a drain cover or broken tarmac at the side of the road and then kinda bounced out and hit the kerb.

So, don't know how this will now work out if I claim to the council. Ultimately, it was still their fault as I was trying to avoid the pothole on the right, but I'm not sure how convincing that will be.

Think it's worth a try? I could go back tonight and take some pictures, although it's a busy road, so might be quite difficult.

Having re-inspected the tyre and wheel, the tyre is absolutely fine and I think the wheel could actually be repaired. However, the repair place I phoned said that they wouldn't be able to reproduce the coating on the wheel, as it's darker on the inside than on the inside. Standard 111R 8-spoke wheels - they're silver on the outside but have a kind of dark finish on the inside (looks a bit like dirt / brake dust, but it ain't). They can only do a plain one-colour finish.

So, I'm going ahead with the new wheel, but will get the damaged one refurbished sometime and keep it as a spare (will stick a tyre on it at somepoint). Or I guess I could sell it?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:48 pm

Sounds like you hit the pothole to me, honest gov....

Scottish Elises

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