Water and traffic are the two largest contributing factors to the formation of potholes. Add in rough winters, and you have a recipe for a mess. While most of us automatically know to avoid the large gaping holes, it may surprise you to know that even small potholes can cause some serious damage to your vehicle.
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Many potholes form when an asphalt road surface cracks under the heat of the day and the constant stresses of traffic. These cracks allow snow and rainwater to seep into the underlying dirt and gravel. Then, when the temperatures drop below freezing, the water freezes and expands, pushing out some of the dirt and gravel, and leaving a hole when the ice eventually melts. As drivers continue to drive over these unseen holes, even more stress is applied to the thin asphalt layer covering them. Eventually that layer breaks away and a pothole is formed.
If you live in a city with lots of potholes, there are some things you can do to avoid unnecessary damage to your car.
- Properly inflated tires will hold up much better against potholes than tires that have too much or too little air.
- Be careful when driving over a puddle of water because it might be a pothole in hiding.
- If there is no way to avoid hitting a pothole, slow down before you hit it, but avoid braking directly over it. This can actually cause more damage than just hitting the hole. At the same time, be sure to hold the steering wheel firmly in order to avoid losing control.
Regardless of the size of the pothole, hitting one can cause damage to your tires in multiple ways and even possibly cause your tire to blow out. Some symptoms of pothole damage according to the Car Care Council include:
- Alignment problems such as your car pulling towards the left or right, instead of going straight.
- Low tire pressure.
- Bulges or blisters on the tire sidewalls.
- Dents in the wheel rims.
- Loss of control, swaying when making turns, bouncing excessively on rough roads, or bottoming out on city streets, which could indicate problems with the steering or suspension.
If you notice any of these symptoms you should take your car into the shop to have it checked for damage. Waiting to do so can lead to more expensive problems or even accidents. Living in Maryland, we are all too well aware of the potholes that form, especially after a cold winter.