Car body shop issues alloy wheel warning

Essex Motorists could be driving potential death traps caused by the so-called “pothole plague” – that’s the view of Fix Auto Dagenham, a member of the country’s fastest growing vehicle body repair network.

Paul Cunningham, owner of Fix Auto Dagenham in Rainham Road South, has voiced his support of Ian Pugh, Fix Auto UK’s managing director. Together, they believe motorists who continue to use their vehicles after driving through a pothole without having their wheels inspected by an expert – even if there is no visible damage – are putting their lives, and the lives of other road users, at risk.

Mr Cunningham firmly believes that while much media focus has been paid on the enormity of the deteriorating conditions of our roads, the very real dangers caused by the escalating issue are being overlooked.

He fears that while a wheel or tyre may look cosmetically sound after hitting a pothole, there may be a resulting underlying structural problem that could fail at any moment, especially at high speed.

He said: “Whenever a piece of metal is struck at reasonable velocity, structural damage may well occur. As an alloy wheel is made from metal and a tyre is reinforced by a steel cord, this indicates clearly they are both susceptible to damage.

“Over time even a hairline crack caused by a pothole can deteriorate and be detrimental to the structure of the wheel and unfortunately that is likely to fail at high speed. The consequences of this do not bear thinking about.”
Mr Cunningham added: “As a BSI Kitemark-accredited operation, every alloy wheel we repair is inspected. I fear that motorists who do not use credible centres will drive away with their wheels looking cosmetically new, but structurally compromised. A motorist rarely, if ever, sees beyond the front face of a wheel and while it may look polished and pristine, on the inside it could be a whole different story and one which could well create a severe or even fatal accident.”