Well, as the title says, driving to work this morning, going round a bend to find a couple of young scroats on the wrong side of the road doing waaay above the 30mpg limit and heading straight for me. Front assist alarm went off and car started to automatically brake heavily, and I steered to avoid what I thought was going to be an off side collision, only for them to squeeze though somehow without hitting me, but in taking avoiding action, my nearside front alloy hit the kerb - with a sickening bang !
Got out to find a tear in the very outer layer of the type wall (not too deep), and a chunk out of the alloy rim - the rims, that BTW, I have kept absolutely mint for over 2 years without a single mark on any of them. To say I'm pi55ed, is an understatement
Needless to say, the car was long gone before I could look back to get a registration number. This is what I'm left with - I'm so mad at the moment
I know there are a few members on here from my neck of the woods (Cheshire), so does anyone know where I'd get this fixed, or is it a send to Lepson's job ? Obviously it's not a smart repair as I think that some filler metal needs to be welded in the gash before turning the face back down with a diamond cut lathe ? I'm obviously concerned about the finished repair 100% matching the existing alloys, so can anyone recommend anyone, and have an idea approx how much and how long the repair would take ?
As regards the damage to the tyre, well it's not too bad, but its on a Bridgestone that's done over 18,000 miles, so all 4 will need replacing soon anyway, which leads me too another question (which I know has been asked to death).
Obviously I won't be replacing the tyres with tombstones again, and think I have narrowed the choice down to 4 tyres - Good Year F1 Asymmetrical, Michelin Pilot Sport 3, Continental Sport Contact (4 or 5 ?) and Dunlop Sport Maxx RT.
Now I've had the Goodyears on a previous Golf and they were superb, but I've read a few reviews that state the side walls are too pliable, and very prone to damage ? Heard good things about the Michelin, but according the official ratings, they are average at best on the economy & noise rating ? Not too sure about the other two only that a few members on here have mentioned them. All seem to be within £10-£25 a corner price wise between each other, so I'd rather purchase based upon actual real life performance and reviews rather than best price (have never skimpt on tyres). BTW, the tyre must have a rim protector as fair play to the Bridgestones, there's is quite a good one and I think have saved my rims a couple of times in the last two years.
I don't need ultimate performance as I'm in my 50's and the car leads a rather sedate life with the occasional burst rather than bulls out all the time, so am looking for something that's quieter and much less prone to wheel spin and tramping than the tombstones, but with similar or better economy and lifespan (if I ran the Tombstones down to the legal limit, I'd have got well over 20,000 miles, as they still have 4.5mm all round on them). Does such a tyre exist or am I asking too much ?
Any advise on both topics greatly appreciated.
