May 2, 2021
You may live in a region where roads become pockmarked with craters known better as potholes. They're caused by moisture seeping through a compromised road surface that can freeze, expand and literally punch holes in the road. And when your vehicle hits one of those holes that's big enough, the impact can flatten a tire, bend a wheel or tear apart a suspension component.
To minimize pothole damage, leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front of you so you can see the road surface and any upcoming potholes. That way you'll have time to slow down and steer around them. Also, if you see what looks like a puddle of water, it may be hiding a pothole underneath, so treat it as if was a pothole.
If you keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specifications, they're more likely to withstand hard impacts. And the slower you're going when you hit a pothole, the less likely you are to break something. But if you do find you've hit a pothole pretty hard, here are some signs to watch out that could signal damage.
These are all symptoms you should have checked at your vehicle repair facility as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more damage you may be doing.
You also may find after hitting a pothole hard that the tire on that wheel is flat. Try not to drive any more on that tire since you could do a lot more damage to the tire and/or wheel. A call to roadside assistance may save you money in the long run by limiting the damage to what's already done.
Tuffy St. Johns
2770 Racetrack Rd.
St. Johns , Florida 32259
904.230.3363
April 14, 2024
Many of us have become aware of how important it is to keep our planets air clean, and your vehicle has a key component that helps do just that: the catalytic converter. Its in the exhaust system, and its job is to superheat unburned, harmful byproducts in the exhaust, so they dont get spewed ou... More
April 7, 2024
Most of us look forward to spring because the days are longer, the weather's warmer and we can finally get our vehicles into warm weather mode. Here are a few things that will breathe fresh energy into anyone's car, SUV, truck or van. First thing is a good cleaning, especially underneath. If you... More
March 31, 2024
Your vehicle is a complicated machine, and yes, it would be nice if you could take care of all of its problems yourself. There was a time when vehicles were simpler and it wasn't too hard for a weekend mechanic to replace brakes, adjust a carburetor or perform a tune-up. But vehicles are far mo... More