Pothole season is here on the roads. If you are unlucky enough to drive through a large pothole or series of potholes, your vehicle may suffer from the damages left by the cold winter weather and salt-covered roads. In this month’s blog, we look at ways to keep your vehicle safe from these unforgiving road remnants of winter.
What are potholes?
As the weather warms and you spend time driving, you may notice more potholes on the road. While potholes can develop in any climate, they tend to surface more during winter weather conditions.
Potholes are formed through the freeze-thaw cycle of winter weather. As water seeps into the pavement and freezes, it expands the pavement which leaves gaps underneath the surface after it thaws. These gaps in the pavement are exacerbated with the pressure of vehicles, which cause the gaps to collapse with the weight and pressure of vehicles. Road crews spend a considerable amount of time filling potholes this time of year, but they can happen anywhere at any time. Heavy rains can even cause potholes to develop.
The Damaging Effects of Potholes
Potholes wreak havoc on your vehicle’s tires, alignment, and suspension components. The trick is to steer clear of them as much as possible, but sometimes they are unavoidable. If you find yourself driving through a large pothole, don’t brake hard. This will only cause more possible damage. Stay alert to the road ahead, and make sure to always inspect your vehicle or look for signs that there may be damage if you have driven through a large pothole.
Tires
Your vehicle’s tires endure significant wear and tear on the road. Potholes can be very damaging to the sidewalls of your tires. The force of a pothole can sometimes be enough to shift the air in the tire and cause a blowout of the sidewall. If you notice a bulge on the sidewall, or your tire monitoring system indicates a loss of air shortly after driving through a pothole, it’s a good idea to get the tire checked out. Unfortunately, sidewall damage is not easily repairable, and tires will need to be replaced.
Alignment
Proper wheel alignment is what keeps your vehicle driving straight and allows you to safely maneuver the road. When your vehicle hits a pothole, it can cause the alignment of a wheel to shift, creating a problem for the overall vehicle alignment. You may notice the vehicle pulling to one side, or changes in the steering when your vehicle is not aligned. Uneven wear on the tires is also a sign that there is an alignment issue.
Alignment is easily repaired, so make sure to have it checked sooner than later. As you continue to drive your vehicle with misalignment, you will only create further damage to the tires and suspension of your vehicle, resulting in costly repairs.
Suspension
Potholes can affect your vehicle’s suspension system in various ways too. The suspension provides a cushion between the vehicle cabin and the road. When you hit a pothole, it may result in damage to your shocks (which absorb and dampen energy from the road), or your springs (which control the height and weight of the vehicle cabin). If you start to notice bouncing, bottoming out, or unusual noises during turns, then you may have a developing suspension issue. Get it checked out by a service professional to ensure that your vehicle remains safe and stabilized on the road.
Potholes are an inevitable part of the passage into spring. Stay alert while driving this time of year, and always be attentive to any changes in your vehicle after running through potholes. Early detection of problems is important to minimizing your vehicle’s damage and costly repairs.
If you want to have your vehicle checked for pothole damage, give the service professionals at Shade Tree Garage a call to schedule an appointment.