Cadillac STS-V Series ForumForum specifically for Cadillac STS-V series discussions. With 469 horsepower, this is the most powerful production Cadillac ever made.
So the Chicago winter finally got around to biting me in the ass - actually the left front tire. While Chicago is commonly known as the windy city, at this time of year it is the nation's capital for potholes. Being the cautious driver of my V at this time of year, I take great pride in having avoided them this long. But no more. This one was simply too large, and traffic prevented me from swerving or braking in time (lest I be rear-ended or side-swiped). Spanning most of the LH side of the lane, and being approximately 12 inches deep, I just squinted and gritted my teeth as the bone-jarring thump took out my tire. I then joined the parade of cars on the shoulder (3 others besides myself). Being only 1/2 mile from the dealership, I decided to limp to their lot. I must say that the Yokohama Advan S4 took the brunt of the hit, as shown in the photos. The rim is supposedly OK, but only time will tell when they remount the new tire and it doesn't leak! Anyone wondering about the durability and fortitude of the Advan S4's should breath a little easier. If they can save my rim and front end from a pothole as nasty as this, then most other obstacles on the road should be a piece of cake.
Bob
Unfortunately, the road is state owned. That means I have to go through the IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation). I did document it by immediately calling the local police to report the road hazard and followed up several hours later. Still haven't heard back from the state to my 3 emails and 3 phone messages to various offices (Claims dept., Division of Highways & Roads, and Local Streets), as well as the Secretary of State's Office. Being a holiday today, I didn't really expect an answer until tomorrow. Good luck with the city - they are almost as broke as the state. Lucky if I/we get 10% of what this costs us. But the pothole was reported to the state at least 6 times over the last week according to the police, so maybe . . . . . Just glad it wasn't my GS/D3s on the chromed rims!
Bob
Sorry man. I walk by my V each morning as she sits there warm and fuzzy in the garage. I hit a pretty good pothole last week with my Sportrac and kept on truckin.
The rim might look ok, but I would have the dealer put it on the balancing machine and check for runout etc. If you need a rim checkout E-Bay before buying from dealer.
Thanks for the info on rims. The dealership said they couldn't test the rim without a tire, and the one left on it could hardly be called a tire any more. Discount Tire, where I purchased the S4's from, did pull the tire and checked the rim. But I am still a bit skeptical. When they put it back on the car, and it DOESN'T leak, then I will be satisfied. Until then, the summer tire & rim will stay in the trunk, lest I get stranded somewhere!
As for the IDOT response, they left a phone message. "Sorry about your tire. Call us back with your name and address, and we will send out a claim form. After completing the form, expect to wait at least 120 days for a response." Quite timely. And a response doesn't mean a check - just whether or not they believe my story. I have the pictures, so kind of hard to deny this, but state employees in IL are not exactly "trustworthy" (seeing as how our last governor was recently sent to prison, and the current one is under federal investigation ). Oh well.
I then joined the parade of cars on the shoulder (3 others besides myself). Being only 1/2 mile from the dealership, I decided to limp to their lot. I must say that the Yokohama Advan S4 took the brunt of the hit, as shown in the photos. The rim is supposedly OK, but only time will tell when they remount the new tire and it doesn't leak! Anyone wondering about the durability and fortitude of the Advan S4's should breath a little easier. If they can save my rim and front end from a pothole as nasty as this, then most other obstacles on the road should be a piece of cake.
Can you file with the city to get reimbursed for the repair cost ?
But the pothole was reported to the state at least 6 times over the last week according to the police, so maybe . . . . . 
Just glad it wasn't my GS/D3s on the chromed rims!
). Oh well.
