I just hit a pot hole (both fron and rear passanger tires), and they both went flat immediately. I had it flatbedded to the dealer (Johnson Lexus in Raleigh , N.C.) and learned that the tires both have broken belts (throw away) and one rim is bent.

The car has just over 4K miles on it and I had it only since December 2002.
I assumed that Lexus would cover the tires for a few months and a few thousand miles?
They didnt.
i am looking at $270 per tire and $500 for a rim.
Any experience here WRT recouping at least some of this expense?

Steve - not sure where you are but in the UK .... tyres are considered wear and tear. In an instance like this we would probably take action against the local council for not upkeeping the roads.

Can't say much to help you mate, but exactly the same thing happened to me but i had aftermarket wheels. Sorry to hear about your experience.

[quote name='Steve ( West Mids )' date='Mar 14 2003, 09:25 PM']In an instance like this we would probably take action against the local council for not upkeeping the roads.[/quote]
Have you ever tried that and succeeded? From personal experience it seems very difficult to get the council to cough up. I gave up in the end.

yes

[quote name='Steve ( West Mids )' date='Mar 14 2003, 10:25 PM']Steve - not sure where you are but in the UK .... tyres are considered wear and tear. In an instance like this we would probably take action against the local council for not upkeeping the roads.[/quote]
Just for info ...

Tyres ARE warranted, but only against manufacturing defects etc.
Obviously tearing them apart on kerbs or potholes doesn't count as a 'defect'

Yes Tony you are right ...

Go take some photo's of the potholes with some strategically placed rulers or tape measures to give an indication of size and depth and of the damage. Then send copies of these to the local council/owner of the road with the bill, asking them nicely (at first) to contribute to the cost of repairs/replacement. Act fast because certainly in the UK, if the council come and repair the road before you do this, then it is extreeeeeeeeemely difficult to squeeze anything out of them. Good luck, we're all counting on you.