The UK’s pothole pandemic continues, with mobile alloy wheel refurbishing company Revive! Auto Innovations reporting a significant rise in repairs relating to poor road conditions.
The company says it has experiences a 58% increase in alloy wheel fixes over the past two years, with repair jobs climbing from just over 8,000 in 2021 to in excess of 12,600 in 2023.
In fact, 41% of Revive!’s fixes, which also include bodywork dent, scuff and scratch repairs, are now alloy wheel repairs, up from 33% just two years ago.
Potholes pledge
Revive! claims that potholes are largely to blame for the increase in wheel repairs, with many of their customers pointing the finger at poor road conditions. Alloy wheel damage is very often associated with a sudden jolt from hitting a pothole, causing scraping or chips in the metal.
While potholes are often a seasonal talking point, mostly appearing in the colder months, many local authorities are struggling to fill them in. The recent ALARM (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) survey report highlights the increasing state to roads in England and Wales, with the amount needed to fix a backlog of repairs set at £16.3 billion.
Between 2018 and 2024 drivers have spent £9.5 billion on vehicle repairs caused by pothole damage, according to Kwik Fit’s Pothole Impact Tracker report. Notably, this almost exactly matches the road funding shortfall identified at the start of that period.
The issue is so important now, that it is also making up part of the election campaigns of the UK’s major political parties. The Liberal Democrats have pledged £300 million over the course of the next parliament to fix the country’s roads, while the Conservatives have said they will invest £8.3 billion in pothole repair and road resurfacing, bringing these plans forward if elected. Labour has said it will fill in one million potholes a year, with a £320 million investment on top of the promised amount from the incumbent government.
Increase for Revive!
“We have seen a substantial increase in demand for our alloy repair service in the last couple of years, and considering the state of many of Britain’s roads, it is little wonder,” commented Mark Llewellyn, managing director at Revive!.
“If your alloy wheels become damaged due to hitting a pothole, not only will this affect the overall cosmetic appearance of your car, but damaged alloy wheels could cause issues in terms of losing traction and control, as well as loss of tyre pressure.”
Paul Boss, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), added: “The only way we are going to stop further damage to cars is by taking a more proactive approach to road maintenance. This means preserving and protecting roads to reduce future potholes and filling existing ones to ensure safer and smoother travel. Any future government needs to take note of this if they want to solve this ever-growing problem.”
