If you drive in Surrey, your wheels are working hard. A new UK Alloy Wheel Damage Index from RDM Engineering ranks the county as Britain's worst hotspot for pothole wheel damage, released November 9.
The rankings
The index looked at Department for Transport road condition data, council defect logs, and how easy it is to reach a wheel repair garage across 30 regions.
- Surrey scored 92.2 out of 100, with 31,400 logged defects and nearly 9% of its roads needing urgent structural work.
- Lancashire came second at 91.1, with England's highest raw count at 38,500 pothole reports.
- Devon was third with 36,200 defects, followed by Hampshire and Manchester.
- In Scotland, the Highland Council area had the worst surface quality in the study, with 9.2% of its network in critical condition, and Glasgow placed eighth.
What it costs drivers
Hitting a deep pothole at speed can crack an alloy, buckle a rim, split a tyre sidewall, or knock the wheels out of alignment. RDM says minor refurbishment runs £80 to £150 per wheel, while replacing a modern diamond-cut or high-spec alloy often tops £400.
The study also found a rural-urban divide. Drivers in cities like Manchester and Birmingham can find a repair specialist quickly. Drivers on rural roads in Devon or Lancashire may hit a hole miles from the nearest workshop.
Why wheel damage keeps climbing
Every pothole that stays open, or reopens after a weak patch, is another chance for a costly hit. Winter makes it worse: water hides holes, and freeze-thaw cycles break up repairs that weren't built to last.
The fix that protects drivers' wallets is the one that stays put. EZ STREET® Ambient® Asphalt is engineered for enduring repairs in real-world conditions. Crews can use it straight from the bag or bulk pile, place it in wet holes, compact it, and open the road right away. It's thermally resilient, so it holds through winter instead of turning into the next pothole report.
Tips for drivers this winter
- Slow down on damaged roads, especially after rain, when puddles can hide deep holes.
- Report every pothole through your council. Repairs can't be prioritised if councils don't know.
- Check your wheels and tyres after a hard hit, before small damage becomes a big bill.
Wheel damage is the cost drivers see. Behind it is a simple question for every highway authority: will this repair still be there next month? Learn more at ezstreetasphalt.com.
Source notes: RDM Engineering via PR Newswire (November 9, 2026).
