Can I Fill A Pothole Myself?

What do Rod Stewart, Arnie Schwarzenegger and our motoring editor have in common? They’ve all terminated a pothole…

J-TP – Is that true – Arnie and Sir Rod have both picked up a shovel and filled in a hole in the road? They must be fed up bursting tyres, smashing alloy wheels and ruining suspension like the rest of us.

JT – It is! Arnie got in to trouble despite his civic-minded deed. Rod had a telling off for doing the same. Earlier this year, actor Nigel Havers also sold his classic Jaguar E-Type because of fears about pothole damage.

I imagine the council wasn’t very happy about Sir Rod swapping his microphone for a shovel – although he does have a gravelly voice. Apparently, the correct course of action is to report a hole to the Highways Authority – then wait a year for something to happen.

Indeed – or you could buy some beefier tyres. The track to our barn is riddled with potholes and it’s my responsibility to fill them. To be honest, it’s not as straightforward as dumping a load of gravel on top.

So, that’s why you’ve gone down the new tyre route on our 4×4?

It actually works out cheaper! Latest research says there are over 11 million potholes in the UK and almost a third of drivers have suffered impact damage. The new government has pledged to fill 1 million holes a year – which will have no impact at all!

What Are The Best Tyres To Beat Potholes?

If you can’t beat them… What should people buy to crash over a pothole with minimal damage?

The car market is dominated by SUVs and for owners who predominantly drive in the countryside, one of the oldest, off-road tyres on the market is the Goodyear Wrangler. Designed for 50/50 on/off-road use, the latest Duratrac RT or ‘rough terrain’ version will tackle just about anything that gets in its way. I used them on my first Land Rover, back in the 1980s.

They look a bit ‘chunky’ – how did you get on using them now?

Well, most people want tyres that last. Wrangler’s weren’t designed for sports cars – they’re for drivers who need decent off-road grip but spend the majority of time on road. Grip is great on Tarmac and in the dirt.

So, how do they survive a pothole when other tyres don’t?

Mostly because Goodyear use reinforced materials in the construction. Tyres aren’t a sexy subject and I won’t bore you with detail, but the RT has a three-ply structure that prevents damage to the side walls, too.

The only three-ply in our house are the loo rolls!

Very funny! But when you are dashing to the station or supermarket this winter and crashing through a pothole, just remember what’s keeping you on the road.

And what about our nerdy readers who might like to know a little more?

I found these latest Wranglers are much quieter than my previous tyres. They also handle better and, from an aesthetic point of view, the more ‘aggressive’ look will please some buyers. I’m also looking forward to some snow because they will be brilliant on the white stuff.

Hasta la vista pothole!

Hmm…

DISCOVER

Learn more about Goodyear’s Wrangler Duratrac RT at goodyear.eu

Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby is Director of Programmes at London College of Fashion, studying for a PhD in sustainable e-textile design.