I look out for potholes and drive round them when I see them, but in the dark with snow filling some of the monsters we have here in Chicago I guess the inevitable happened.

This time the wheel needs replacing. There's a "V" shaped notch on the inner rim that can't be straightened. So one new 20" rim, a realignment, and a mortgage payment later...

 

This is normally an insured loss.

 

True, these wheels are expensive. Calculate the cost of the wheel less the deductable, if you have not made many claims, give it a whirl.

I bent two rims on my E 350, had to replace both wheels 4 tires (too many miles to just replace 2 on an all wheel drive car). The good news, the dealer made me pay for both wheels, they bought the tires, it still cost me $1500, but I didn't feel as bad. No, I did not make an insurance claim.

 

I truly wish things will get in your way regarding insurance and such things

 

Sorry to hear about your bad luck and I guess that it would also damage your insurance no claims bonus/premium if you made a claim.

It would here.

Also sorry to hear you still have SNOW, I bet you guys must be sick of Winter by now.

 

Snow tires stay on until late May where I am. I went skiing in the Rockies on Sunday on 2 meters of packed snow....cold too.

 

Ok ... it has to be asked ... who is she this time?

 

She is Montana Marks

 

I ruined a tire recently hitting a pot hole in LA. Rim survived. But tire was only 6 months old. Ins Co said that if I made I claim I would be deemed at fault! I decided not to pursue the claim.

 

I hit a lump of construction debris which managed to punch through the rim but left the tire undamaged. Bought a new (reconditioned) 20" Volans rim from Detroit Wheel and Tire. Much cheaper than dealer.

 

ask your dealer if they offer any type of road hazard wheels/tires plan. definitely worth purchasing.

 

Large rims and skinny tyres are no good of you have rough roads. Best to have smaller rims and fatter tyres in my humble opinion. I dumped 20" on my X350 in favour of 18". Car is so much more comfortable on these smaller wheels.

 

20 inch wheels are a fashion statement, rather like high heels.

I'd be very interested to know if the 20 inch wheel package actually outperforms the 18 or 19 inchers. My guess is the 19 inch would be the ideal size for this car with 18 inch better for rough roads (I use 18 inch summer and winter partly due to our awful roads).

 

My dealer offered a road hazard warranty which included rim/tire/door dings for 5 years which I purchased. I managed to blow a tire a week after I bought the car and as it turns out those rear tires aren't cheap. The one tire cost more than the warranty plan so I'm very happy.

 

Agreed that the Volans are a fashion statement. I saw where one website doing a review hated the 20s but i think they make the car. Absolutely love them although I may buy a winter set of 18s. Still the are so nice that I cannot understand why that site was so anti 20s. This is a damn Jaguar XF, not a Honda Accord. Im not looking for basic transportation here hahaha. Some people buy boats. I buy fun cars

 

Looks over handling. I bet the XF drives better on smaller rims on our awful roads. The 20 inch rims may look better (I don't think they do) but if you have to slow down or swerve for every pothole or crack then it spoils the drive. the UK drivers think they have bad roads but they don't. Maybe compared to Germany but not compared to LA.

 

yeah I hear ya, Jagular. Chicago gets some ridiculous potholes too. Some look more like sinkholes. You just helped me out on the snow tire thread but maybe the Chicago pothole season aka winter is another reason to pick up some 18s with a tire with a higher sidewall.

 

For winter you do get better traction with the taller sidewall. The extra give in the sidewall keeps the tires from breaking traction quite so easily. The extra distance between those expensive rims and the hard stuff is a bonus.