Shortly after 0600 EST on Monday, I was a few miles into my commute and it was still pitch black outside. I was about to merge onto the interstate from a local, state road traveling about 40mph and experienced a jarring bump that physically jolted me off my seat. Surely, I thought, my tire blew and the car was gravely damaged. I had no idea what I hit and kept driving, cautiously. Tire pressure numbers all looked good and the car drove fine so I continued on and pulled over after I exited the interstate. Much to my horror, my two-week old Lucid Air, still with temporary tags, endured a massive injury to the front left wheel and the plastic insert was nowhere to be found, but somehow the tire seemed fine (pictures attached). I went to the dealership in Tysons after work and was fortunate that they could swap the wheel for me. 30 minutes and $1,080 later, I was back on the road. The service staff (and me too) was baffled at how the tire was still hanging on by a bead!
On my commute in the next morning around the same spot, I noticed a very shallow pothole, about one inch deep, but extremely wide - perhaps the width and depth of the Lucid Frunk Carpet Divider. That was what I "hit" or drove over the prior morning. Has anyone else experienced this type of wheel deformation after hitting a pothole? Is this type of result normal, even with 21 inch wheels? Beyond the tire pressure and alignment, are there are other things I should closely monitor after this event?
This was a humbling (and expensive) lesson to always scan the road for any deviations in the asphalt. I am totally new to sedans and having only ever large driven SUVs for 20+ years and yes, I have 21 aero sport stealth wheels on my Air Touring which most likely played a huge factor.
On my commute in the next morning around the same spot, I noticed a very shallow pothole, about one inch deep, but extremely wide - perhaps the width and depth of the Lucid Frunk Carpet Divider. That was what I "hit" or drove over the prior morning. Has anyone else experienced this type of wheel deformation after hitting a pothole? Is this type of result normal, even with 21 inch wheels? Beyond the tire pressure and alignment, are there are other things I should closely monitor after this event?
This was a humbling (and expensive) lesson to always scan the road for any deviations in the asphalt. I am totally new to sedans and having only ever large driven SUVs for 20+ years and yes, I have 21 aero sport stealth wheels on my Air Touring which most likely played a huge factor.
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