Not a Pothole - Manhole ruined a new tyre

by etlgdjs

01 Feb 2011

Before I start I should Add that I have not hit a pothole, I have hit a manhole but I feel people should be aware as it completely took me by surprise and caused the same amount of damage to a brand new tyre and potentially damaged my Alloy.

I was driving to Craggy Island at Slyfield at around midday on Wed the 19th Jan, just as i passed the garage by Allianz, I hit something in the road which I thought could only be a pothole. The impact I felt through the wheel was so great I knew I had done some damage. Two weeks before my wife hit a pothole and ruptured the nearside front tyre and I had only just got the tyre replaced. As soon as I arrived at my destination I checked the tyre and straight away saw the bulge in the side wall.
I went back to the scene and walked the edge of the road but could not see a pothole that could have caused it, what I did find though was a manhole cover that rocked as cars went over it and that had dropped about an inch on the far edge. The edge of the Manhole has a metal angular lip causing an edge that has obviosly increased the damage potential to a wheel. I watched as some cars drove over it without incurring the same damage but I have low profile tyres and alloys and obviously caught it on the sweet spot.