All About Potholes
Birth of a pothole
Any combination of the spring freeze/thaw cycle, poor road maintenance, extreme weather conditions, and excess truck weights can create potholes.
When the rubber hits the pothole
The wheel drops down into the pothole then continues out. The smaller the wheel, the greater the impact, especially if the depth of the hole matches the diameter of the wheel. If you can't avoid a pothole, don't "block" the wheel; release the brakes just before impact. Most damage occurs on exit.
On Impact
The wheel is pushed back and up and the shock is transmitted to the tire, wheel, suspension, and steering. Tires absorb the impact first, and structural and sidewall damage can result. The shock travels vertically and horizontally. As normal suspension play is vertical, horizontal force can be sufficient to damage parts of the suspension and steering. If wheel alignment is affected, it must be corrected to avoid premature tire wear.
Damage & Speed
No matter what your speed, a longer pothole usually causes more damage because the wheel has more time to drop down before it exits. In the same way, the car's platform and undercarriage can sustain damage at low speeds because again, the wheel has time to drop into the bottom of the hole.
Tire Pressure
An over-inflated tire is more likely to sustain structural damage. An under-inflated tire can bend, crack or break. Hubcaps attached by pressure points can easily detach.
Fuel Consumption
Poor roads increase fuel consumption by as much as 35%.
Drive Pothole-Wise
- Watch out for water. A puddle can disguise a deep pothole.
- S-l-o-w down. If contact is inevitable, reduce your speed to reduce the chance of damage to tires, wheels and suspension.
- Look ahead. If you spot a pothole far enough in advance you may be able to avoid it.
- Keep up the pressure in your tires. This keeps them from collapsing when hitting a pothole and helps insulate wheels from costly damage.
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