Last night, I drove over a big and deep hole on the road. I was going about 30 mph. The driver side front tire hit the hole and made a loud sound as everything in my car shock. This is the first 18" I have ever had. Since it has low profile tires, would it damage the rim, suspention, or alignment? Has this happend to anyone else? I have notice that eh driver side is about 1/4 inch lower than the passenger side since then. Is this normal?

 

It is never normal to run over a deep hole. Do you have TPMS? Have you inspected the rim? When you drive down the road, and let go of the steering wheel, do you swerve to one side of the other? You might want to go somewhere and have them check out the alignment, etc.

 

I did the same thing today, cept I was doing about 60ish and coming to a fast stop when I nailed one about 2inches deep. I thought I flateded it and bent my wheel but when I pulled over my 19s were still round on both sides and no tire psi loss. I got super lucky, I must have hit it just right. Does't pull either.

 

that is my fear with upgrading to 19s and an inch less tire that I'll be blowing a hole in them every week!

I live in Minnesota...the potholes can get so big they'll consume your whole car!

 

You mean like this :D

 

meh.. i avoid them.. like its a AUTOX course... haha.. peeps behind me think im drunk or somethin...

 

yowza!

I was exaggerating a little bit but yes there are pot holes that will tear your hole suspension system and rims right off

 

Ouch, I say you get 13" daewoo rims with 7" side walls. That would keep the car at about the same level, so you don't have to worry about your speedo being wrong. :p

 

DAMMMMMMMMMM

 

I have 19's now and that's why Im buying wheels and tires 17's for winter and road trips.

 

speaking of minnesota pot holes here is an Onion article that mentions them comically:

http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4108&n=1

 

here in sydney we get some pretty bad roads, pot holes, uneven surface etc.
always look out for things like that will save you from hitting one next time.... i have hit a few pot holes, but never have damage rims.
one of my mate had 18" MOMOs and it had a few cracks in them after few pot hole. they are made by soft alloy, so they do crack/bent.
as for 19", you gotta have higher tyre pressure. i have 40psi for my 20's, and i have hit a couple of small pot hole... so far so good. :o

 

Hey Ez, do you are anyone else around get their rim damage covered by insurance? your do you have to purchase a special RIM insurance which many companies have?

 

the full comp insurance covers for theft for everything i have on the 8, inc. all mods. but they dont cover it for pot hole damages etc.
this is the first time i heard of a special rim insurance :o
it doesnt really bother me with the rims, with my business, i get wheels/tyres are a very good package, so i change them quite often. i have had the 8 for just over 12 months, with just under 4000km on the clock, i have already had 2 sets of whees. i reckon i'd get another one if it is on the road :D i changed the wheels 3 times on the last car i had, within 15 months :D they were all 19"s or above

 

you want to sell me the rims you get rid of (shipping would be an arm and a leg)

as for the extra insurance I'll look into it...I believe big retailers like tire rack offer it...I wonder if my regular car insurance would add it ala carte

hmm

 

oh that... i get it.. :o
my supplier gives lifetime structural warranty (ie. you gotta read the fine print ). but generally if it is damaged and you can prove that the wheels arent strong enough etc, they will replace it/them free of charge.
havent done that, and not looking at doing that at all. :p