In our area of the country, the snow and ice of winter have left roads in bad shape. The repeated freezing and thawing of moisture seeps through road surfaces and causes potholes.
Keep these driving tips in mind this spring as you travel:
- Hitting potholes can throw your car's front end out of alignment. If you feel your car "pulling" during driving, that's a clue that you could have a problem. Check the tread on your tires: uneven tread wear can be a sign of misalignment. If you hit a severe pothole, have us check your vehicle's alignment and tire balance.
- When you hit a pothole you can damage your tire and/or the metal wheel of your vehicle. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help reduce damage from potholes and other road hazards.
- The impact of potholes on tires increases dramatically with speed and can cause hidden, internal damage that could lead to tire failure weeks, or even months, later. It is best to avoid potholes entirely, but if that's not possible, don't brake during pothole impact. Instead, apply brakes before hitting a pothole and release them just prior to impact. Braking during the impact sets up the tire and wheel assembly for a "solid hit" against the edge of the hole. Less severe damage occurs when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.
Give us a call and set up your FREE alignment check appointment. We'll have a look. If your vehicles alignment is fine we'll let you know. If your vehicle is out of alignment, we will advise you before any work is done.