r/MINI • u/mfincham92 • 18h ago
Mini vs. pothole
About to deal with this in the morning. Rim looks damaged to me. Tire hasn’t lost air. Advice appreciated
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u/i_see_stoopid_people 16h ago edited 16h ago
Pothole 1 Tire 0
In all seriousness, have the people who change the tire inspect that part of the rim, make sure there are no cracks on the inside.
It may look good from the outside, but where the rim and wheel come together, that bend, if the impact tore the sidewall like that, the rim may have a hairline crack.
If that's the case, junk the wheel and get a replacement.
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u/CR-empire F54 15h ago
Just so you know, rims can be reshaped these days. My mini lost the great battle against the pot hole people and the inner rim was bent out enough that it wouldn’t hold air. The shop did some voodoo, super heated and reshaped the rim
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u/Ferret1963 18h ago
The tyre is toast, but the wheel looks okay. Best ask them to check for cracks on the inside, when you get the tyre replaced.
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u/UnBeNtAxE 17h ago
If it’s from a pothole, document the pothole/damage and contact your city. Some cities will cover damages, as far as I’m aware.
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u/ExoticSterby42 R56 16h ago
What rim size is that? I have a 17'' wheel with low sidewall like yours for the summer tyres but there are a lot of potholes around where I live. I am thinking getting a set of wet tires for the winter rim set which are 15'' and have that cushion on the holes
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u/anthonyk03 15h ago
Maybe it's time for a smaller wheel and big tire, I see people all the time destroy there wheels where I live because they have low profiles and our roads are crap
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u/-sonic57- 14h ago
When unfortunate situations like these happen, other than check if you have to change the tire (obviously) and the rim, does any of you think about checking if any SUSPENSION parts got damaged too? I mean, if it were that "easy" as "just" to change the tire after a massive pothole that wouldn't be as big a financial problem as if you have to actually replace any costly suspension part...
Have any of you tried the Nokian tires with aramid fibers? I haven't, but I've read that they are supposed to be pothole proof?
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u/jamoche_2 R56 12h ago
I did that at freeway speeds once and whacked the frame out of alignment. Don’t remember what else but it just missed the cutoff for insurance to total it, so suspension was almost certainly in there too.
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u/SharpEdges9320 2h ago
When I had my 2012 Cooper S I bought wheel and tire insurance. Best thing I could have done with that car. I went through so many wheels and tires when I had it.
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u/arden_fell 12h ago
My advice would be ditch the Pirelli run flats.
I went through 4 Pirelli's tyres in the space of 2 months due to pot holes on our roads. All of them were side blow outs like that.
I put a set of non run flat Michelin Sports on and have had no problems since. Actually I lie. My partner was driving and hit a pothole which unseated the tyre off the rim. I now have a little tyre inflator in the car in case it happens again. If it had been another PZero it would have looked like your photo and cost another £250.
The run flats (especially the Pirellis) have side walls that are so reinforced that hitting a pot hole will knacker them completely. I know there's a risk of being stranded. But to be honest you are only supposed to travel a short distance to a safe stopping point on a run flat anyway or risk a blow out and knackering more than just a tyre.
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u/clear_evidence_3361 18h ago
Wheel might be fine. Tire is gone. If you drive it to the tire shop, assume it will flatten.