Have you hit any potholes recently? The season and winter temperatures cause damage to our roadways creating large potholes and hitting a pothole can be devastating to your vehicles tires, rims, suspension, and other steering components. It can even affect your wheel alignment, which can shorten the life of your tires.

While you should do your best to avoid potholes, sometimes it’s unavoidable.  Here are a few tips you need to know about potholes and how they can affect your car:

• If the steering is off-center after you hit a pothole, your wheel alignment needs to be checked or it may be an indication of damage to a steering or suspension component
• If you notice the steering wheel shaking, this is an indication of a wheel balance problem or damage to either the tire or rim
• Does the car pull to one side? This is another indication of an alignment problem or component damage
• Does the car ride rough and not handle on the road the way it used to? This may be an indication of damage to the springs, shocks or struts

A complete bumper to bumper inspection by your trained auto professional will reveal any pothole-related issues or alignment problems.  Contact us for a free “Pothole Damage Inspection” with any auto maintenance repair service.

The Pothole Facts

How do potholes form in roads?

Potholes are holes in the roadway that vary in size and shape. They are caused by the expansion and contraction of ground water after the water has entered into the ground under the pavement. When water freezes, it expands. Think of when ice cubes are made

Do potholes cause accidents?

Hitting a pothole can also cause the driver to lose control of his or her car and can cause truck and motorcycle accidents which result in injuries and are one of the top causes of auto accidents.

If you are experiencing these issues, book your appointment today