Pothole strike! Am I okay?

FastAttackNick · 04-04-2006, 09:37 AM

Question for the august body: Last night I hit a pretty good size pothole in VA Beach (didn't see anything in the heavy rain). I think was lucky - I hit it straight on, and the wheel was straight. I checked the rims, no chips or anything. The only noise was a thud when the tire hit it, and no noticeable alignment problem. My question, was I lucky? Is there anything else I should check to make sure? - new car and I'm paranoid. I hit the thing at about 45 mph... ugh...

04-04-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastAttackNick

Question for the august body: Last night I hit a pretty good size pothole in VA Beach (didn't see anything in the heavy rain). I think was lucky - I hit it straight on, and the wheel was straight. I checked the rims, no chips or anything. The only noise was a thud when the tire hit it, and no noticeable alignment problem. My question, was I lucky? Is there anything else I should check to make sure? - new car and I'm paranoid. I hit the thing at about 45 mph... ugh...

This has happened to me and it concerned me too. Unless you can feel anything different in the steering wheel you are *probably* okay, IMO. I was in an unfamiliar suburb of Los Angeles a month or so ago, misjudged a curb and slammed my right front wheel into the curb. It scratched the rim, but other than that I can feel absolutely no difference in my steering. I'm confident that, in my car at least, that nothing further was damaged. Whew! I think you're okay, bro.

Chuck_IV · 04-04-2006, 10:53 AM

We had this happen on the Tapanzee Bridge, this past weekend. We were in the lefthand lane, going north and right at the crest of the bridge... WHAM!

The whole seam of the bridge was like a pothole. I thought I lost a filling. Nothing seems wrong with the car but WOW that rocked rocked us pretty badly.

This doesn't handle bumps all that well, especially with the stiff sidewalls of the runflat. Actually, thinking about it, the stiffer sidewalls of the runflats may have actually helped protect the rims.

Bimmerista · 04-04-2006, 10:57 AM

Check very carefully the sidewall. If there is a bump in it, you shredded the inside of the sidewall and your tire is in danger of a blowout (replace tire). If not then you were indeed lucky.

FastAttackNick · 04-04-2006, 11:10 AM

I appreciate the responses - I checked the tire and the rim and there is no surface damage. I'll keep on the lookout for any alignment issues. Like driving on the moon down here this time of year - I spend most of my commute in a constant wince.

0700700 · 04-04-2006, 11:20 AM

dont worry mate, this things are quite frugal

Bimmerista · 04-04-2006, 11:21 AM

I hear you, in Montreal, I had the same thing happen to me but I actually had sidewall damage-had the change an otherwise perfectly good brand-new winter tire.

Toddlers can disappear for weeks in some of our potholes.

04-04-2006, 09:37 AM	#1
FastAttackNick My other ride gets 2000 nm to the neutron... 2 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia iTrader: (0)	Pothole strike! Am I okay? Question for the august body: Last night I hit a pretty good size pothole in VA Beach (didn't see anything in the heavy rain). I think was lucky - I hit it straight on, and the wheel was straight. I checked the rims, no chips or anything. The only noise was a thud when the tire hit it, and no noticeable alignment problem. My question, was I lucky? Is there anything else I should check to make sure? - new car and I'm paranoid. I hit the thing at about 45 mph... ugh... __________________ __________________ 330i / Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather Packages
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-04-2006, 10:53 AM	#3
Chuck_IV Private First Class 7 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	We had this happen on the Tapanzee Bridge, this past weekend. We were in the lefthand lane, going north and right at the crest of the bridge... WHAM! The whole seam of the bridge was like a pothole. I thought I lost a filling. Nothing seems wrong with the car but WOW that rocked rocked us pretty badly. This doesn't handle bumps all that well, especially with the stiff sidewalls of the runflat. Actually, thinking about it, the stiffer sidewalls of the runflats may have actually helped protect the rims.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 10:57 AM	#4
Bimmerista Major General 82 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	Check very carefully the sidewall. If there is a bump in it, you shredded the inside of the sidewall and your tire is in danger of a blowout (replace tire). If not then you were indeed lucky.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 11:10 AM	#5
FastAttackNick My other ride gets 2000 nm to the neutron... 2 Rep 54 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia iTrader: (0)	I appreciate the responses - I checked the tire and the rim and there is no surface damage. I'll keep on the lookout for any alignment issues. Like driving on the moon down here this time of year - I spend most of my commute in a constant wince. __________________ __________________ 330i / Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather Packages
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 11:20 AM	#6
0700700 Major 81 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: 745li / cls 55 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: BG iTrader: (0)	dont worry mate, this things are quite frugal __________________ 2007 CLS55 AMG / 2003 BMW 745Li
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2006, 11:21 AM	#7
Bimmerista Major General 82 Rep 5,732 Posts Drives: superstock Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada iTrader: (0)	I hear you, in Montreal, I had the same thing happen to me but I actually had sidewall damage-had the change an otherwise perfectly good brand-new winter tire. Toddlers can disappear for weeks in some of our potholes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote