It’s Pothole Season!
Potholes can be a major pain in the butt. 🕳 They’re the bane of many drivers’ existence, and they’re everywhere. They can cause damage to your suspension, make your tires go flat, and can even cause accidents. The biggest problem with potholes is that they usually happen when you least expect them: You’re driving along and suddenly find yourself hitting a giant crater in the road. ☄️
You always want to (safely!) avoid potholes. Hitting a deep one can cause all sorts of damage to your car’s tires, suspension, and alignment! The best way to avoid them is to drive carefully in areas where they’re known to be, but if you do find yourself heading towards one, here’s how to handle it:
- If it’s small enough that you can avoid hitting it, then do so.
- Try not to drive over deep potholes. These types will more likely cause damage and may require repairs after driving over them.
- If you have no choice but to hit the one then do so with as little force as possible. Don’t slam on the brakes or accelerate suddenly; instead, try to enter and exit the pothole smoothly.
If your vehicle has sustained damage from hitting a pothole, have it inspected by an auto technician ASAP so that any necessary repairs can be completed before further damage occurs. Hitting them can do all kinds of damage to your car such as; your car pulling left or right, bent wheels or suspension components, or tire blowouts (which could lead to an accident!).
Here’s how potholes can damage your car:
Suspension damage
If you hit a deep pothole, it could cause your vehicle’s suspension to bend, twist, or even break. This is particularly dangerous on a highway when other drivers might not be expecting your vehicle to move suddenly & erratically.
Tire damage
Hitting a large pothole can cause significant damage to the tire & rim of your vehicle. The impact can puncture the tire, bend the rim, or pop the seal between the two. Depending on the damage this may cause you to have it repaired it immediately before you can drive again.
Alignment issues
A car’s alignment refers to how its wheels are pointed in relation to each other and the centerline of its tires — basically everything that makes sure it goes straight down the road without veering left or right unexpectedly. If your suspension or tires become damaged from a pothole this may cause your alignment to become “off” and make your car pull one direction or the other (or both!) while trying to go straight down the road.
The best way to treat potholes is to avoid them (like your ex 😆), but if you find yourself needing your car inspected for pothole damage feel free to give us a call and we can get you back on the road!
Top Tier Automotive
608-572-7722
TopTierAutomotive.com
Info@TopTierAutomotive.com
5506 County Road CV
Madison WI 53704