Signs of pothole damage
Bottoming out, excessive bouncing and loss of control – all indications of steering and suspension issues. Crooked steering wheel – indication of bent steering components. Pulling to one side and uneven tire wear – signs of alignment problems.
The most common types of damage are loss of a hubcap, a damaged tire, a bent or broken wheel, wheels knocked out of alignment, damaged suspension components, bent steering parts, and damaged shock absorbers.
Hitting the hard edge of a pothole can jar your steering system, causing misalignment to your wheels. You might only notice this damage when your car pulls to one side or another or the steering isn't as responsive as it used to be.
Suspension & Steering
Dipping into a pothole may misalign your suspension or steering. This causes handling problems with your vehicle, such as drifting to the right or left even though your steering wheel indicates you should be going straight. You might also feel vibrations as you drive.
If a car goes over a pothole at a very high speed, it leads to very noticeable damage to the wheel, which can be spotted by doing a visual inspection. Other times one can find a change in the driving feel, vibrations in the steering wheel, a different car handling altogether.
When you hit a pothole, it rocks the entire suspension system and can cause premature wear and tear on shocks and struts. Spotting damage to shocks and struts can be tricky. A flat tire or bent rim is obvious after slamming into a pothole; you'll have a hard time driving with either of these problems.
In rare cases – say, a sinkhole in the middle of Main Street – you may hit that killer pothole that actually damages your car's most internal processes: your engine and your exhaust.
When you hit a pothole, the steering knuckle can bend and cause problems with the wheel alignment, and the ball joint can break or rupture.
Don't Let Pothole Damage Slow You Down
If you hit a pothole and now your alignment feels off, head to your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care. Our expert technicians will assess the state of your steering and suspension system to determine if a wheel alignment is necessary to get you back on the road safely.
One of the most common and frustrating issues even for safe drivers is pothole tire damage. Depending on the impact, it can cause the sidewall to blow because of the sudden shift of air in the tire. You should avoid squeezing it since it can cause a tire puncture and flat tire.
They Deflate Tires
Aside from the obvious blowout, potholes can slowly lower your tire pressure, unbeknownst to you. This is a slow danger because low tire pressure can cause bulges on the sidewalls of your tires, possibly even denting your wheels.
You can drive for 50 miles with a spare tire. Most spare tires, like donut types, are designed for short drives to find the nearest repair services. However, this short-term use can save you much in case you are in an emergency. Most drivers stretch it to even 70 miles if they don't find a repair shop nearer.
The impact of a severe pothole can bend the control arm. This destabilizes your steering wheel's center and affects how it reacts. It also causes uneven wear and tear of your tires.
Feeling every bump
If you start to feel every bump on the road, it's a clear sign that there is a problem with your shock absorbers or struts, that needs to be checked. An easy check is the bounce test. Simply push your entire weight down on your car's bonnet. Release and count the number of times the car bounces.
Maintain the correct air pressure in the tires.
High air pressure causes tires to wear out faster. If the pressure is excessively high or exceeds the manufacturer's recommendations, the tire might blow out, particularly at high speed. An over-inflated tire will also cause you to feel every bump and crack in the road.
If the vehicle's tires are inflated properly when it hits a pothole, it lessens the chance of damage. When a vehicle hits a pothole with low tire pressure, the rim is more likely to be damaged and the suspension could suffer.
Spongy Drive
If you've been driving and slowly begin to notice that driving the vehicle seems softer, almost sponge-like, this is a sign of low tire pressure. As the tire pressure decreases, the tire begins to flatten out. This more of tire's service area is making contact with the road, creating the spongy feel.
Is it Safe to Drive? If your tire pressure is only slightly low, you should be able to drive safely for a few more miles until you can add air. Tire pressure that is extremely low can lead to tire failure. This can result in a blowout, which can be extremely dangerous.
You could damage the tire beyond repair
If there is no air or not enough air in the tire (which is needed to support the weight of your vehicle), it can cause 'internal structural damage,' meaning the material inside the tire can get damaged beyond repair.
Causes of Tire Bulge
Tire bulge is commonly due to impact damage. This is when internal damage is inflicted on the tire when it comes into contact with certain obstacles, like: – Driving over potholes on the road. – Frequently running up onto curbs when parking.
If you feel a slow shake, it's likely that your wheel was bent to the point it can't drive straight. If you feel a fast, vibrating shimmy, hitting the bump may have knocked your vehicle's weight off, and now a tire is out of balance. Either way, now your vehicle's parts are out of sync.