HOW DO POTHOLES OCCUR, ANYWAY?

Potholes form through the expansion and contraction of groundwater after the water has moved past the pavement and into the ground. When temperatures fall, the water freezes – and expands. This works similarly to an ice cube tray you pop into your freezer. The water may be level as you fill up the tray, but once it freezes, the ice cube may reach beyond the limits of the tray, taking up more space. This happens underground too. Water seeps in wherever there’s room. Then when it has a chance to freeze, it takes up more space, expanding, bending, and cracking the pavement.

When the ice melts, the pavement contracts, leaving gaps and voids underneath the pavement. This allows more water to seep in, and the process starts all over again, expanding as it goes. As cars and trucks pass over weak spots in the road, the pavement starts to weaken. This causes the material to shift and be displaced until a pothole forms.

SO, WHAT CAN HITTING A POTHOLE DO TO MY VEHICLE?

In most cases, drivers hit potholes every day. For the most part, we ignore them because they happen all the time. To many drivers, it may even seem like potholes don’t impact your car at all. Not true.

The more you hit them, the more potential damage may occur. Potholes, especially bigger, deeper ones, can alter the angle of your wheels, which impacts the way your vehicle connects with the road – and that can eventually become dangerous.

Damage often starts with the wheel. If tires make direct contact, it could cause rim damage or even lead to a blowout. But it often starts in more subtle ways.

Proper wheel alignment is essential for the integrity of your car. When your tires are aligned, rotation follows a straight course. That means it’s easy to steer the car, and you have little resistance to keep your car on course.

A misalignment means your vehicles ability to travel straight and true moves off-centre. It becomes increasingly difficult to drive in a straight line. And, even a slight change can create problems – the most common being wearing the treads off your tires very quickly. You may feel a vibration, or feel the car pull to one side.

Misaligned wheels also put undue stress on the suspension system and will decrease your fuel economy too, all of which is expensive. Paying for an alignment may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy new tires, let alone replace suspension parts.

THE RIGHT WAY TO RUN OVER A POTHOLE

When you come to a speed bump or dip in the road, it’s only natural to hit the brakes and slow down to create less impact on your vehicle. Hitting a pothole doesn’t work in the same manner.

If you can’t steer around it, it’s better to hit a pothole with your wheels pointed straight ahead and WITHOUT applying the brakes. Hitting the brakes over a pothole can actually cause more damage. When you apply the brakes, your car’s front end dips down and compresses the front suspension. This compression does not allow the wheels to absorb as much of the impact, which can ultimately lead to more serious damage throughout your vehicle.

If you’re interested in arranging an alignment service, please click the SERVICE REQUEST button below. Depending on current conditions, traditional services may not be available so we’ll contact you to discuss how we can best serve your needs. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.