Why You Should Always Avoid Potholes

Here in Youngstown, Ohio, seasonal changes like freezing and thawing can affect the paved surfaces of local roads. As the water spreads into the soil, it seeps under the road, expanding with freezing temperatures and contracting as the weather warms. Eventually, this leads to buckling and cracking on the road’s surface. These cracks let even more water get in, damaging the road on a larger scale and leading to the dreaded potholes. Potholes are the bane of drivers who frequent streets that have yet to be repaired, but unfortunately, they’re a reality that you’ll have to learn to safely navigate.

What Are the Risks of Hitting a Pot Hole?

The jolts you feel when you hit a pothole are not just unpleasant for you but can cause costly damage to your car, including the tires, wheels, suspension, and undercarriage. It’s best to go slow and drive around a pothole if you have enough room to do so safely. This will help you avoid unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. If you have no choice but to drive over a pothole, go slowly and grip the steering wheel tightly to prevent jerking. Don’t slam on the brakes before hitting a pothole, as that can do more harm than good.

Pothole Damage

If you’ve driven over a nasty pothole, park somewhere safe and get out to check your car for damages. Be sure the tires aren’t flat or have low pressure, then check for bent rims and any cracks in the wheels. Your tire’s alignment might also have been affected, which can lead to uneven wear if they aren’t realigned soon. Cosmetic damage, such as paint scratches and dents, can occur to your car’s low-profile areas, including the bumper and sidings. These pose fewer safety issues and are more of an annoyance that doesn’t need to be fixed immediately.

Harder-to-spot damage can occur to the suspension, which worked hard to absorb the shock to your vehicle upon hitting the pothole. This can damage the springs and other crucial components. If you notice your suspension doesn’t work as well or your car starts to make unusual noises, you should take it to a certified service department for assessment. Your steering can also be damaged by a sudden impact to the wheels. If you notice strange noises, vibrations, or your car starts to pull to one side as you drive, it should be checked for damaged parts and misaligned wheels.

Average Costs for Damaged Replacement Parts

There are a lot of components that can be damaged on your vehicle if you hit a pothole, including tires, rims, wheel alignment, shocks, and undercarriage. Depending on what needs to be replaced, the price might be minimal, but other parts can incur a significant cost.

Tires and wheels: A single tire can be as low as $50 and as high as $300, while wheel replacement is generally in the same range. Experts recommend replacing tires in pairs so the front or back tires wear at the same rate. So if one tire has pothole damage, you might end up purchasing a pair or even a full set.

Suspension: At best, you’ll need a wheel alignment to straighten things out, costing you somewhere between $50 and $150. At worst, you’ll need to replace vital components of the suspension system, including shock absorbers, struts, and coil springs, which can cost as much as $3,000.

Exhaust system: The front of your car will likely receive the most impact from hitting a pothole. But that doesn’t mean other undercarriage parts, such as the exhaust pipe, never get damaged. It can be over $1,000 to replace the entire exhaust system, while individual pieces like a muffler can cost $100-$300.

Which Tires Are More Pothole Resilient?

While it’s best to avoid driving over a pothole, that isn’t always possible, depending on traffic or road conditions. So what tires are best for when this happens? If you often have to drive on bumpy, pothole-ridden roads, look for tires specifically designed for withstanding rough conditions, such as all-terrain tires. These are available with thick treads or sidewalls, offering more protection from the cuts and abrasions caused by a pothole’s rough edges. Firmer tires work better on smooth roads, so consider a softer tire to help cushion your ride.

Are High-Profile Cars Better for Potholes?

There are many considerations when choosing a new car, including how high or low its clearance is from the ground. Your vehicle choice should be determined by your everyday lifestyle, and you’ll want to factor in your regular routes and driving conditions. Small and sporty cars often have a low clearance since they’re built for on-road travel. Vehicles with lower ground clearance offer better handling and stability while driving. They are an excellent option if you spend the majority of your driving time on highways or other smooth roads.

Higher ground clearance is better for driving on rough, uneven roads. This is standard on pickup trucks and SUVs, which are deliberately designed for off-roading or driving in challenging conditions like mud and snow. The higher your car is off the ground, the more room it will have to clear a pothole when it encounters one. While this is only one aspect of a vehicle, it is something to consider if you often drive on damaged or bumpy roads.

Did You Hit a Pothole Recently?

Are you in the Boardman and Youngstown, Ohio, area and concerned about damage to your vehicle after hitting a pothole? Bring your car to us and let our factory-certified technicians assess the damage. At Cochran Cars, we offer service and repairs at our state-of-the-art service departments and a vast inventory of new and used cars at our dealerships. If you have any questions, contact us online or give our team a call. If you’re in the market for a new or used car, stop by any of our three dealerships in Youngstown. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Life in a City of Epic Potholes by Bart Everson is licensed with CC BY 2.0