Cars and Credit Master
Dec 2, 2020

Potholes can become a significant issue for your car, even if you catch them at a moderate speed. If you hit a pothole, ensure that you contact us or schedule maintenance to inspect your vehicle. If you neglect maintenance after you hit a pothole, any damage created will only become worse in the long run. Always be conscious of what the state of your car handles right after hitting a pothole. If you notice weird noises or sounds, we suggest that you examine it as soon as possible. Furthermore, check the tires immediately after hitting a pothole. If you start to discern any damage, contact our service center.

Hitting Potholes During Driving

There are times that you will notice a pothole on the road when you are traveling. Make sure to reduce your speed as you get near it. Hitting the pothole with a low speed can help limit further damage as you go over it. If you hit a pothole at a fast rate, it can enhance the chance of damage to your tires. Moreover, always remember to avoid as much as you can a direct hit to the pothole. Try to straddle it or drive around it as much as possible. If you encounter a deep pothole, you also run the car’s risk of getting stuck or having an instant breakdown.

Issues with the shocks and suspension damages of your car when hitting a pothole. If you feel uncomfortable with the ride, there could be a critical issue with it. Contact us and let our top-notch mechanic inspect it immediately. We can help you to ensure that your car and the parts are in the best condition. Plus, it can help to have your car run efficiently. Even with a minor problem, you want to make sure that it needs to be repaired immediately. The time your car is completely restored, you can get back to a safe and comfortable vehicle. 

Let us discuss the possible damages that a pothole can do to your car.

Punctured Tire and Wear Tread

Hitting a pothole can create undesirable wear to your tire. At worst, a pothole may produce a puncture or leak to your tire and can cause swelling on the side of your tire. Having severe damage to your tire caused by a pothole will require immediate action. Do not ignore this damage or you will suffer from damage costs.

Damage to the Wheels

Once your vehicle hits a deep pothole, the tire rims can become significantly dented. The dented tire can result in a poor seal between the tire and the edge, causing air leaks and flat tires.

Suspension Damage and Broken Parts

If a car drives through a pothole, the tire’s original force is shifted to the component suspension system components like springs and shock absorbers. Recurred bumps caused by potholes can hasten wear and tear of your suspension whilst decreasing its performance.

Steering Alignment

Steering problems made by potholes can start unpleasant and likely unsafe difficulties such as vibrations, lousy steering, untimely or unusual tread wear.  If you notice that your car is pulling to one side while you drive, it usually implies that your vehicle is not aligned. Misaligned can build the cost of maintaining your vehicle because you need to replace your tires more commonly. Also, poor alignment affects safety and gives the driver difficulty and stress.

Chassis Damage

If you notice some leakage under your vehicle after hitting a pothole, your chassis or undercarriage may have suffered damage. A leak from the chassis is just one of the many indications that it could be damaged. Once you encounter chassis damage, it should be repaired as soon as possible.

Best Thing To Do If You Hit a Pothole

The best approach to avoid pothole damage is to be attentive when driving only. Always try to steer clear of potholes as much as you can. By any chance, move and swerve around them. Avoiding and moving around potholes can help prevent damage entirely. We recommend you to leave a space in front of your car while driving; it will give you more time to respond to potholes.

It may be essential to watch for water or other road dangers. Potholes filled with water can be very hazardous because you do not know how deep it is until you hit them. Moderate driving can reduce the damage to your vehicle if you hit a pothole.

If your car hits a pothole and experiences a notable shock, do not ignore it, check the damage and contact us. Being attentive will prevent any additional damage to your car. Driving your vehicle with minor problems can start to compound, resulting in significant repairs down the road. Inspect your tires for irregular wear, any bumps or obvious damage, as these are the most apparent damage caused by potholes. Subsequently, look for any vibrations caused by the damage to the steering system. Check for your wheels, it needs to be inspected and should be balanced.

Ways to Avoid and Reduce Pothole Damage

Due to seasonal changes, summer and winter weather is affecting our roads, and potholes will follow. Here are some tips you can do to avoid road hazards and reduce possible pothole damage.

– Always drive with tires that are well inflated and in good shape. A properly inflated tire will give you the best outcome of absorbing the shock from potholes safely.

– Drive carefully and avoid distracted driving. Slow down when you are not familiar with the road and you notice that there are potholes.

– Be attentive to what road ahead. Make sure you have enough distance between you and the car in front of you to avoid problems.

– Remember that even though you drive over a missed pothole, expect that there are more to encounter.

– If ever you cannot avoid a pothole, take your foot off the acceleration and grip your steering wheel. Do not brake; it will allow you to sustain the most control during the contact.

Getting something stuck in your tire occurs more often than you think. The tread around your wheels will often hit up rocks, debris, or gravel, which is common and usually will not cause any damage. However, objects such as screws and nails can also end up on the road and puncture your tires.

If this happens to you, you may be thinking about what you can do. You are wondering whether it is safe to keep driving your car. Actually, it is possible to drive with a nail in your tire—but only if the tire is still well-inflated. You should never try to drive your car with a flat tire as it is hazardous to driving situations. Nevertheless, if the tire is not flat and you can smoothly move your vehicle, we recommend that you go to the tire repair shop nearly.