Madison, WI. — Area roads are left with a list of problems as the winter frost leaves. The constant freezing and unfreezing of water on roadways can wreak havoc, forming supersize potholes that can destroy the underside of a car. The automotive specialists at Smart Motors service department always see numerous instances to vehicles suffering from potholes during the freezing/thawing times of winter and they have the following advice to help prevent and notice pothole-related damage.
Visible damage is the easiest to detect, but may not be the only indication your vehicle needs some attention. One obvious sign of tire damage is when a tire ‘bulges’; which occurs when the steel/fiber ply belt in the sidewall of a tire breaks due to a heavy impact. Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors, says; “even if your tires don’t have bulges, it does not necessarily mean you are free from the damage of potholes.”
If your vehicle pulls to one side, or your steering wheel is visibly off center, Roman suggests being on the safe side and schedule an appointment with a reputable automotive service center and getting an assessment. This way, the vehicle’s alignment and other signs of damage can be analyzed and fixed before they become a major problem. Repair costs can vary greatly depending on the extent of damaged parts; from a simple alignment, to several thousand dollars to replace potentially damaged suspension components.
Roman also offers these tips to help protect vehicles against the jarring experience of a pothole encounter:
- Maintain full recommended air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual for the correct tire air pressure.
- Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
- If a pothole cannot be avoided, slow down BEFORE hitting the pothole. Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts or springs.
- When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
- Do NOT brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.
- Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole.
About Smart Motors
Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more about Smart Motors.
