Driving on a road full of potholes can be aggravating. It can cause yourself and vehicles to swerve and be jarring if you didn’t notice one and hit it. How does hitting a pothole affect your car? It is never fun, but is it really beneficial to attempt to dodge them? Here are some things to consider about potholes and their effects on your vehicle.
Wheels
Hitting a pothole can damage your wheels, causing potential cracks and bends that will cause the wheel to not spin properly. You can generally see the damage most where the rim meets the tire. The damage you face can cause the need to replace the wheel altogether.
Tires
Replacing your tires earlier than expected is very frustrating. By avoiding potholes, you can prevent the potential need to replace your tires early. Potholes can do a number on your tires and cause punctures, tread damage, and loss of air pressure. It can even cause your sidewalls to bulge. When this happens, the airtight liner inside your tire becomes separated from the outer part of the tire. The bulge is created when the air from the liner escapes and is caught between the 2 layers. You may be able to visibly identify this if you see a bubble on your tire. This can cause a tire to blow out and should be attended to right away. The impact of your car hitting a pothole can also potentially cause your tire to blow out on the spot.
Suspension, Steering, And Other Miscellaneous Occurrences
Your whole alignment can be thrown out of whack when you hit a pothole. This can cause uneven wear and tear on your tires and premature replacement, and make your smooth ride seem a bit bumpier with more vibrations and possible sounds. If your car doesn’t feel like its sitting level (either the front or the back is higher than the opposite end)., or the front of your car seems to dive forward when stopping, it may be a result of your suspension being affected by the impact on the pothole. If you think your car can be out of alignment it is important to take your vehicle to a local auto repair shop like All County Automotive to get it checked out.
Your steering can also be knocked out of its ideal positioning. This can cause your car to pull to one side and feel more difficult to handle.
In rare cases, hitting a pothole can cause the underside of your vehicle to take damage and loose fluids.
Needless to say, those little (maybe some not so little) potholes can cause big time damage to your vehicle. Try to avoid them as much as possible to keep your car in great shape. The best way to avoid potholes is to minimize distractions and always focus on the road. No matter what damage you face because of a pothole, All County Automotive can fix the problem and get you back on the road safely. Schedule an appointment with us or give us a call today for any of your auto repair needs.
