Effing potholes!
Discussion
Like a third world country on our roads at the moment 
Just driven into a swimming pool sized hole and wrecked 2 pilot sports that had done 1500 miles and 2 x 20" Audi alloys (refurbed 1500 miles ago)
It's a joke out there.
Choice I had was either driving into the hole, or swerve into the oncoming tipper lorry at a closing speed of around 80MPH. 40MPH road, and the tipper was gunning it - way more than 40. I was doing 35-40 topps.
No contest really.
The front tyre burst immediately upon impact.
Damaged the rear tyre and wheel too, but thankfully that didn't go pop.
Take care out there; our roads are highly dangerous in the poorly repaired state they are in!
Just driven into a swimming pool sized hole and wrecked 2 pilot sports that had done 1500 miles and 2 x 20" Audi alloys (refurbed 1500 miles ago)
It's a joke out there.
Choice I had was either driving into the hole, or swerve into the oncoming tipper lorry at a closing speed of around 80MPH. 40MPH road, and the tipper was gunning it - way more than 40. I was doing 35-40 topps.
No contest really.
The front tyre burst immediately upon impact.
Damaged the rear tyre and wheel too, but thankfully that didn't go pop.
Take care out there; our roads are highly dangerous in the poorly repaired state they are in!
HellDiver said:
Yeah, thanks for pointing out the obvious. You've only noticed now?
The roads round here haven't been repaired since the snow in 2009. Literally holes you could park in, and this is a large town.
20" rims are just dumb in this country. It's asking for trouble.
You being funny?The roads round here haven't been repaired since the snow in 2009. Literally holes you could park in, and this is a large town.
20" rims are just dumb in this country. It's asking for trouble.
The car came with the alloys, and it was either driving into the hole, or a head on with a tipper truck.
I don't expect to wreck my car on the road - maybe if I had hit a curb, then fair enough.
We don't all drive 4x4s you know! Even one of those would have wrecked a tyre hitting this fecker.
ETA - It was spray marked, so they are aware of it. Waiting for the claim form as this is going to be expensive!
Edited by Jayzee on Wednesday 16th February 17:15
Jayzee said:
We don't all drive 4x4s you know! Even one of those would have wrecked a tyre hitting this fecker.
Maybe more should!Potholes are one less thing for me to worry about on the road now (even with 20" wheels). I got fed up with driving my 997 and havig a buttock clench every time I had no choice but to drive over a bloody great chasm.
Mutt said:
I know this isn't very helpful but was braking not an option? If one was feeling unkind they might suggest you were going too fast for vision...
Wasn't visible until I was on it! It was hidden by a slight incline, and immediately behind that. Hit the anchors, but it was too late. It was one of those split decisions - swerve or brake. Swerving wasn't an option in this case 
Edited by Jayzee on Wednesday 16th February 17:52
HellDiver said:
Yeah, thanks for pointing out the obvious. You've only noticed now?
The roads round here haven't been repaired since the snow in 2009. Literally holes you could park in, and this is a large town.
20" rims are just dumb in this country. It's asking for trouble.
I have to say I agree with this - both our cars are on 16" wheels with 55 profile tyres (50 on the rear of my Merc) and they're bad enough. I can't being to imagine how horrendous 20's must be.The roads round here haven't been repaired since the snow in 2009. Literally holes you could park in, and this is a large town.
20" rims are just dumb in this country. It's asking for trouble.
In the dark, pouring with rain on a sharp bend on Sunday I hit one of the biggest potholes I have ever seen on my motorbike - I really thought I was going to be off the bike. How I got away with it and an undamaged wheel I'll never know.
It's not just damaged wheels etc - people (eg me!) could get killed.
The thing is that the pseudo-greenie b
ds that run councils are the first to bleat about people buying boingy 4x4s - but to me they are really making sense - or little crossover things like Jukes.
It's not just damaged wheels etc - people (eg me!) could get killed.
The thing is that the pseudo-greenie b
ds that run councils are the first to bleat about people buying boingy 4x4s - but to me they are really making sense - or little crossover things like Jukes. A bit late for the OP now, but I've got the impression that the wheels will take a bit less damage if you hit something like a pothole or curb while off the brakes, because the suspension will then soak up a bit more of the impact.
Can anyone confirm if this would help or not? i.e. brake hard when you see it, get off brakes just before you hit.
Can anyone confirm if this would help or not? i.e. brake hard when you see it, get off brakes just before you hit.
I've been taking it fairly easy in the MX5 over the past week, as the roads are in a shocking state. Luckily I know where are the potholes are on my daily routes, so I can avoid them. I've got to drive to Durham daily for a course next week though, I'll be taking it easy there until I've spotted all the potholes as I suppose their roads are just as bad as ours.
There is one on my way to work which i have to swerve to avoid on a daily basis. I got out to have a better look at it today and it was 8 inches deep and about as big as a bicycle wheel! 8 inches! The council had even painted a square around it and it has stayed painted for 4 weeks with nothing actually done about it!
Alfanatic said:
A bit late for the OP now, but I've got the impression that the wheels will take a bit less damage if you hit something like a pothole or curb while off the brakes, because the suspension will then soak up a bit more of the impact.
Can anyone confirm if this would help or not? i.e. brake hard when you see it, get off brakes just before you hit.
Can anyone confirm if this would help or not? i.e. brake hard when you see it, get off brakes just before you hit.
Sure you are right.
Weight transfers to the front of the car and all that. Pretty sure I came off the brakes as I hit it though... Sort of braced myself and tried "lifting" the car via the steering wheel! Must have thought I was on a bike :S
vescaegg said:
There is one on my way to work which i have to swerve to avoid on a daily basis. I got out to have a better look at it today and it was 8 inches deep and about as big as a bicycle wheel! 8 inches! The council had even painted a square around it and it has stayed painted for 4 weeks with nothing actually done about it!
Hmm. http://www.thetaxguide.co.uk/what-does-road-tax-pa...Bottom paragraph - last sentence.
I wish!
I burst a tyre in similar circumstances. chased the local authority with pictures etc and eventually they paid up.
I've got used to studying the road surface in front of me when I'm driving these days. Although it's madness when you should really be looking furhter ahead for traffic hazards.
Trouble is, you've got absolutely no chance of avoiding the craters when it's dark!
I've got used to studying the road surface in front of me when I'm driving these days. Although it's madness when you should really be looking furhter ahead for traffic hazards.
Trouble is, you've got absolutely no chance of avoiding the craters when it's dark!
Just make sure that you report them. The more people that report potholes the better protected the rest of us will be.
I use http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/ as it is simple to use.
I use http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/ as it is simple to use.
The roads in and around Smallfield/Copthorne (Redenhall Road)are the very worst I have seen anywhere I have ever been including third world countries
the roads are truly shocking, it can hardly be a poor area! speed humps disintegrating and having holes before/after, every drain, middle of the road, there is nowhere to avoid them, the people who live around here must be fed up. luckily I'm only an infrequent visitor thankfully.
the roads are truly shocking, it can hardly be a poor area! speed humps disintegrating and having holes before/after, every drain, middle of the road, there is nowhere to avoid them, the people who live around here must be fed up. luckily I'm only an infrequent visitor thankfully.
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