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How can I prevent my tyres getting damaged by potholes?
MY 2022 BMW M340i Touring failed its first mot yesterday. Yes, you’ve guessed, pothole damage to the front near side tyre. This will be the third tyre I will have had to replace in 18 months (this tyre lasted only 8000 miles). I didn’t claim for the first two, but I will for this one. My questions are: There is no apparent solution to this problems as my council do not appear to be prioritising potholes at all. What else could I do to prevent this happening in the future? I would very loathed to get rid of my car, but I can’t go on like this. So what car would you recommend that could be capable of withstanding such damage?
Asked on 3 March 2025 by tonytee
Answered by
David Ross
Unfortunately there is not a great deal you can do to mitigate pothole damage other than changing the specification of your wheels and tyres. A smaller wheel would allow you to run a tyre with a bigger sidewall, but you would need to ensure a smaller wheel would leave sufficient clearance over your brake callipers. You could also change the specification of your tyre to an XL design which tend to have more substantial sidewalls and so are better able to cope with potholes.
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