Many of us eagerly await the arrival of spring every year. But once the spring showers wash away what's left of winter, often we are left dodging potholes on the roads.
Potholes are created due to the aging of pavements. The pavement eventually begins to lose its ability to resist water, and small cracks start to appear. The water that flows into the cracks then expands when frozen, causing the ice formation to dent the pavement. The weight of cars and trucks can break up this uneven pavement, creating a pothole.
Hitting a pothole can easily ruin your beautiful spring day, not to mention your tires or wheels. The impact caused by a vehicle running over a pothole shoots up the vehicle, increasing the chances of both tire and wheel failure. Another cause of tire failure could be internal vehicle damage that could take months to manifest itself. Despite the dangers of potholes, there are measures you can take:
You would first want to make sure your tires are inflated properly. The impact of potholes and other roadblocks could decrease if your tires have enough air in them.
If the tread on your tires appears to be uneven, your vehicle may be misaligned. Hitting potholes can affect your vehicle's alignment. If you feel your car "pulling" to one side during driving, that's a sign that you could have a problem. One good way to make sure your tires and wheels are properly aligned is to visit your friendly Firestone (tm) Complete Auto Care (tm) for assistance.
If you're driving and notice your car may take a direct hit from a pothole, don't hit the brakes. Instead, try to apply brakes before hitting 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. Severe damage can be better avoided when a tire is rolling, rather than skidding, over a hole during braking.
Spring is the time for cleaning, and it also happens to be the best time to make sure your car is in working condition, and this would include your tires, of course. Properly maintaining your tires includes proper rotation, inflation, repair and replacement.
You will have to follow your manual's instructions to the letter when rotating your tires and as for tire pressure, this has to be checked once a month. Following these simple maintenance tips can help you avoid the pitfalls of wet driving conditions or dreaded potholes.
Potholes are created due to the aging of pavements. The pavement eventually begins to lose its ability to resist water, and small cracks start to appear. The water that flows into the cracks then expands when frozen, causing the ice formation to dent the pavement. The weight of cars and trucks can break up this uneven pavement, creating a pothole.
Hitting a pothole can easily ruin your beautiful spring day, not to mention your tires or wheels. The impact caused by a vehicle running over a pothole shoots up the vehicle, increasing the chances of both tire and wheel failure. Another cause of tire failure could be internal vehicle damage that could take months to manifest itself. Despite the dangers of potholes, there are measures you can take:
You would first want to make sure your tires are inflated properly. The impact of potholes and other roadblocks could decrease if your tires have enough air in them.
If the tread on your tires appears to be uneven, your vehicle may be misaligned. Hitting potholes can affect your vehicle's alignment. If you feel your car "pulling" to one side during driving, that's a sign that you could have a problem. One good way to make sure your tires and wheels are properly aligned is to visit your friendly Firestone (tm) Complete Auto Care (tm) for assistance.
If you're driving and notice your car may take a direct hit from a pothole, don't hit the brakes. Instead, try to apply brakes before hitting 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. Severe damage can be better avoided when a tire is rolling, rather than skidding, over a hole during braking.
Spring is the time for cleaning, and it also happens to be the best time to make sure your car is in working condition, and this would include your tires, of course. Properly maintaining your tires includes proper rotation, inflation, repair and replacement.
You will have to follow your manual's instructions to the letter when rotating your tires and as for tire pressure, this has to be checked once a month. Following these simple maintenance tips can help you avoid the pitfalls of wet driving conditions or dreaded potholes.
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