pothole warning

[///M]

****! I hit a massive pothole this evening and it blew both of my driver\'s side tires. :( Worse still - the particular tire I have on there is directional and has been discontinued this year. :sarc

Heads up to everyone - Sheppard eastbound before Leslie, left lane. Beware.

[Cardinal Fang]

:(

Sorry to hear about that autoexe. Although, this doesn\'t surprise me given the condition of the some of the roads in our city.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Wow thats gonna suck big time! So what are you gonna do with those 2 tires? You going to replace all 4, or just get 2 more and go thru this winter?

[chaser]

That\'s sux!
If you\'re getting 2 new replacement tires, put them on the rear.

[majic]

Originally posted by chaser


That\'s sux!
If you\'re getting 2 new replacement tires, put them on the rear.

he can\'t.. he blew the \'left\' side tires.. he\'ll have to buy 2 new left tires but i dunno how much mileage on the old ones.. might have to buy a set of 4 to be safe :(

shit.. that\'s tough luck.. how fast were you going anyway?

[///M]

I have about 18000-20000kms on the tires.

They\'re directional but not asymetrical and can be flipped (someone correct me if I\'m wrong), but they\'ve been discontinued (!!!) and their replacement model has a different tread pattern meaning they\'d pull. Apparently Toyo recalls all of the unsold stock from the retailers after ever winter, so there\'s no chance of any old stock.

Does anyone know if there\'s some way to make a claim from the goverment for damage cause by a pothole? I might be totally off, but I recall reading about it somewhere before.

edit: I was going about 40km/h.

[whodilly]

shitty deal. You don\'t have much luck with your wheels!!! damn! I feel for you bro! I drive down that way regularly so I\'ll keep my eyes out for the damned pot hole! Thanks for the heads up.

[Cardinal Fang]

You can call the City of Toronto to report potholes at

http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/0/327c1230803ff09885256e36006a1cf8?OpenDocument

This is not to say something would be done about it.

[chaser]

I once watched a report on Pulse24 or CTV News about a guy making claim for his CLK damaged by potholes in Toronto; he was successed. He collected info such as photos of the pothole and area, damage made, size & depth of the pothole, witnesses contacts, etc.

[chaser]

From Pulse24:

Successful story (http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20050315-015/page.asp)
How to make claim (http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20050315-012/page.asp)

Good luck

[majic]

nice find!!! :D

not sure how long they archve the articles for but in case you can\'t get to those links:



So you’ve been driving through Toronto’s pothole ridden streets when your car hits one of those road ruts head on.

Before you know it, your front end is out of alignment and your back end is in spasm.

And your car’s not so good, either.

If one of those gigantic gaps damages your automobile, do you have any way of getting the city or the province to repair it? Turns out you do, but like most things in government, you have to cut through some red tape to do it.

Here’s how to stake your claim and undo the damage:

City of Toronto

First you have to prove it was the city’s fault. Toronto’s legal department never pays out a claim without a thorough investigation first.

Needless to say, the powers-that-be suggest you go through your insurance company first.

But if you decide to pursue the complaint, you have to submit it in writing. The claim has to include the time, date and location of the incident, a description of what happened, and a damage estimate.

And don’t wait. Any such bid for compensation has to be done, in the city’s underlined words, “immediately”.

Address your note to:

City Clerk’s Office,
City Hall,
100 Queen Street West,
Toronto.
M5H 2N2

Fax: (416) 392-1867

Or you can email: clerk@toronto.ca

But even then you’re not finished. Two weeks later, you’ll get another letter in the mail acknowledging receipt of your complaint and if it’s found valid, another form to fill out.

For more information, call (416) 397-4212.


Ontario Highways

The needs are similar to the city, but the envelope or email goes somewhere else.

Mail a comprehensive claim that includes the time, date and location where the damage occurred, and include copies of any relevant documents – like a repair bill or an estimate.

Send it to:

Management Board Secretariat
Risk Management & Insurance Services
700 University Avenue,
6th Floor,
Toronto.
M7A 2S4

Here’s where more government red tape comes in. You can fax the information if you want to (416) 314-4444 - but you have to follow it up with a mailed letter either way. And you may have to wait up to three months for an answer.

Call (416) 314-3443 for more information.

Finally, there’s a way to get even with the pothole that did you in. In Toronto, call (416) 599-9090, and then push #164. A crew will assess the problem and if it’s serious, it will be fixed within 48-72 hours.

If you come across a hiccup on the highway, call (416) 235-4686 or toll-free at 1-800-268-4686.


March 15, 2005

[SoopaBanana]

Great info... Any way to stickie this and maybe have this thread as the pothole reporting thread to save all TM3 members the hassle?

[///M]

Good info! I might give this a shot.

I\'ll see if I can get a picture of the pothole tonight, if it\'s still there.

[///M]

Update:

Replaced with 4 Pirelli W210 Sottozeros, 205/50R17.
I originally wanted Dunlop Wintersport M3s, but they were sold out for the season.

Still need to fix my alignment - it\'s way off.

I now have 2 spare Toyo Snowproxes with some tread left - any ideas what to do with them?

[SABIO]

I live in a new home area.... where the streets are *unassumed-use at own risk*
Last june my front tire blew the belt after slamming into a pothole/rain gutter combo. The Town of Newmarket claimed they were not responsible but forwarded my written complaint to the developer. In oct. I recieved a call from the developers insurance company requesting more info and pictures, which I sent.
My last contact was in early Nov. and from what I gather i am basicaly waiting for my $270 cheque for the RSA i had to buy.
So yes... follow through with your complaint/claim, it will take months... but you should get something out of it.

[majic]

Originally posted by autoexe


I now have 2 spare Toyo Snowproxes with some tread left - any ideas what to do with them?

don\'t all toyo tires come with road hazzard warranty? or is that NOT covered under aforesaid warranty?

[Cosmo77]

Most SNOW tired do not come with any road hazzard warrenty be cause of the conditions they are usually run it...but I might be wrong.

Cosmo

[///M]

Originally posted by majic



Originally posted by autoexe


I now have 2 spare Toyo Snowproxes with some tread left - any ideas what to do with them?

don\'t all toyo tires come with road hazzard warranty? or is that NOT covered under aforesaid warranty?

They are covered, and under the program you recieve a 40% discount on replacement tires. There\'s a catch though - the price, with the 40% discount is calculated from Toyo\'s own list prices. I was told that my particular tire was listed at close to $400 apiece, meaning you don\'t save much, if anything under this program even with the 40% discount. In my case, it works out to be more expensive that what I originally paid for them.

Additionally, the S-950s have been discontinued, and they would only be able to provide the new mismatched 952s.

[///M]

This is what killed my tires: :(

http://individual.utoronto.ca/cc_706/pothole.jpg

Also took some measurements tonight. It\'s about 4\" deep at the sides. Nasty.

[Geologic]

Originally posted by autoexe

Heads up to everyone - Sheppard eastbound before Leslie, left lane. Beware.

Isn\'t that near IKEA, Canadian Tire, and TD Bank?.. damn, I work around there and head the same way (eastbound) everyday on the way home, I\'ve never had to go through that pothole before. Is it before you hit Provost drive heading eastbound?

[///M]

It\'s on Sheppard after Provost. Right across from Leslie TTC station.

[Cardinal Fang]

Originally posted by autoexe

http://individual.utoronto.ca/cc_706/pothole.jpg



I think you may have a strong case. The manhole cover was painted yellow. This may indicate that someone identified this a potential hazard and went about trying to warn the drivers on the road about it. Unfortunately, painting the manhole cover yellow will not help in all conditions.

[Caz]

Originally posted by autoexe


This is what killed my tires: :(

http://individual.utoronto.ca/cc_706/pothole.jpg

Also took some measurements tonight. It\'s about 4\" deep at the sides. Nasty.

There is our tax dollars hard at work.
I mean hardly working.:)

[billyfo]

you call this pothole????? it should be named tires/suspension killer, damn that\'s hurt.

[JokersMaz3]

thanks fo the warning, im up and about that area.

[MAZDA Kitten]

OMG! That is scary!
Good luck with this... that is totally unacceptable.

Autoexe: there is quite a few threads in the Canada forum on Vortex about this too.
Note: If your car has been damaged by drivng on poorly maintained roads in toronto call 416 397 4212 (office of the city clerk) to submit a claim.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2177583
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=863038
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=534246
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1537080
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1232392

[ds2chan]

thanks for all the warnings.. man, it\'s getting pretty bad out there..

maybe we should have a new category where we can post up the locations of all the dangerous potholes..

[///M]

MK: Thanks for the information! The Vortex rocks.

Update: Today I mailed a 7 page letter to city hall regarding this matter...let\'s see what happens. *crosses fingers*

I\'ll keep you guys updated.

[Caz]

Good luck.

[ds2chan]

Originally posted by autoexe


MK: Thanks for the information! The Vortex rocks.

Update: Today I mailed a 7 page letter to city hall regarding this matter...let\'s see what happens. *crosses fingers*

I\'ll keep you guys updated.

good luck and I feel for you man.. it sucks when unexpected crap like this happens..

also, how\'d u beef up the letter to 7 pages?? was there a lot of forms to fill out or was it actually a letter with pictures.. thanks..

[///M]

About 2 pages in text. The rest were pictures and supporting documents.

[wtom]

4\" deep??? any damage to your car underbody?

[Caz]

If the letter doesn\'t work, call silverman helps @ citypulse. That crabby bastard will get you new tires and rims.

[FLIPDADY]

Originally posted by wtom


4\" deep??? any damage to your car underbody?
I was just about to ask the same thing. Next time you come by for service we\'ll take a look.;)

[///M]

^That\'d be Friday - I\'m due for my 56k.

I was wondering too...but it appears that the tire took most of the impact and hopefully there\'s no underbody damage. My alignment\'s way off though and that needs to be fixed.

[///M]

Originally posted by Caz


If the letter doesn\'t work, call silverman helps @ citypulse. That crabby bastard will get you new tires and rims.

Any more information on that? I\'m sure a bit of negative publicity on their part wouldn\'t hurt. ;)

[Caz]

Here is the link (http://www.pulse24.com/News_Features/Silverman_Helps/20051129-001/page.asp) to Silverman\'s page and his info:
e-mail:helps@citytv.com
Silverman Hotline: 416-340-2449.
Fax: 416-591-0292.

[DrunknFoo]

errr, I remember about 3-4years ago when \'i think\' that same pothole in that exact location blew my buddies GTI tires.

\"The nature of the pothole... after hibernation, it emerges once again to prey on innocent tires?\" -ya I\'m lame:p

[///M]

*update*

I recieved a letter and claim form from the City of Toronto\'s insurance adjusters today.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I was talking to a frd that i haven\'t seen for a while. He told me his car had some dmg because of potholes as well and he had claims for it and got it fix free and got a free loan car as well.

[///M]

Bump! Back from the dead.

Update: Got a call today - I\'m getting reimbursed! Waiting for my cheque to come in.

[ds2chan]

wow, it took quite a bit of time.. but good to hear that you\'ll be getting reimbursed for your tires.. I don\'t think anybody asked but are ur rims ok??

[///M]

The rims are fine. I find that the stock rims are pretty strong.

[bubba1983]

Originally posted by autoexe


The rims are fine. I find that the stock rims are pretty strong.

as most usually are..