Learn from this Mistake!

SmartOwner · 05-31-2008, 08:48 AM

I'm hoping this helps 1 person:

My wife, used to a much more formidable ride, hit a pothole @ speed yesterday & took out both passenger side wheels.

So, the reminder is, expecially to newbies to cast wheels/lighter duty cars, go around it, not through it!

On the plus side, despite an unGodly crease in the front wheel (it took the hit right between the spokes), it is astounding how deformed it got without losing the seal. The entire side of the bead is exposed & it's still holding air.
Further on the plus side, the wheel was sacrificial. There is zero evidence of tweakage of any of the suspension mounting/arms/struts/tie rod, etc..

So, have fun with your rides & try not to be any more of a victim of our declining infrastructure than necessary. Asphalt costs have far outpaced gasoline prices, so expect the worst.

Flashman · 05-31-2008, 09:05 AM

I have a 2006 Mazda 3 wagon that my wife drives, loaded and all. But so far I've had to replace three tires. Something about magnetic curbs she tells me. In any case, she's a very lovely lady and I've just accepted this is the price we pay for the ones we love. However, I have no intention to let her drive my smart. ;-)

meaux61 · 05-31-2008, 09:16 AM

I went over a killer of a pothole this morning and expected the worst. When I got to my destination, everything was ok. Phew....

Meaux

Fredvon4 · 05-31-2008, 10:20 AM

Connecticut SmartOwner

I would get that front end checked...Hard to believe a smack that hard did not tweek the strut and associated components in some way

artificial · 05-31-2008, 10:42 AM

83039

RVGRINGO · 05-31-2008, 11:09 AM

Approaching the tunnel under the Mobile river (Alabama) in our 2007 Passion, we had a blowout on the right rear tire at 135 Km/Hr; near top speed. We didn't feel a thing but saw the tire fly away. Amazingly, the beads remained on the wheel and we passed through the tunnel and up around the long flyway to downtown Mobile. The wheel never touched the pavement. We called a flatbed to take us to the largest tire dealer we could find in the yellow pages. After a couple of hours, he managed to locate and obtain a single Bridgestone tire just a bit fatter, 185 75R15, than the original Continental. Soon, we were on our way home. In Texas, we thought we would try to find a mate for the new tire but dealers said it would take five days, so we continued across the border and went home to Lake Chapala a day and a half later. Eventually, a local dealer found us a matching tire in a Guadalajara warehouse and we find these tires quite nice and a bit tougher than the originals. We dread losing a front tire! One friend here has modified his Smart so that it no longer has the smaller front tires and all four are the same.

stevenvillatoro · 05-31-2008, 11:44 AM

The lower the tire PROFILE, the more susceptible your wheel will be to potholes, regardless of the size of the car, wheel diameter, width, etc.

A tire that is 195/35, for example, would be at greater risk than a 195/55, due to the reduced height. One more reason not to switch to 16" or 17" rims.

RVGRINGO · 05-31-2008, 12:03 PM

A reminder:
You can jump in your Smart and drive away on a flat rear tire without realizing it until it is too late and you have ruined the tire. Always look at all four tires before you drive. We've done that twice & it is a very expensive mistake.

Wizco · 05-31-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

The lower the wheel PROFILE, the more susceptible your wheel will be to potholes, regardless of the size of the car, wheel diameter, width, etc.

A wheel that is 195/35, for example, would be at greater risk than a 195/55, due to the reduced height. One more reason not to switch to 16" or 17" rims.

On that note, Flashman:

You can get the 16" wheels for the Mazda 3 for cheap all day, from the guys that buy the 4 door, and dump the 16"'s for bigger wheels. I also have a Mazda 3 wagon, and use the 16" for snow tires in the winter. Much more pothole proof than the 17"'s that come with the wagon.

**jwight** · 05-31-2008, 12:18 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but wheels don't have profiles, high or low. A 15 in wheel is a 15 in wheel. Tires do have profiles, as indicated by their designations; a 70 series tire is high profile - more distance between the inside and outside diameters. A 35 series tire is low profile - less distance, therefore less "give" to protect the wheel rim from potholes, etc.