Shirley/Dowdeswell Streets

Potholes do more than damage tyres

According to the Car Care Council, “Motorists will spend nearly $5 billion on car repairs from damage caused by potholes,…”

Of course we’re able to see any damage to our tyres as a result of bad road conditions, damage occurs to the “steering, suspension and alignment systems” that are not immediately evident.

And, our upcoming rainy season might make this worse.

“If you hit a pothole while driving, the Car Care Council recommends that you watch for the following warning signs and have your vehicle inspected by a professional technician without delay.

“Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads. These are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and/or struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units and tie rod ends.”

“Pulling in one direction, instead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear. These symptoms mean there’s an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is important for the lifespan of tires and helps ensure safe handling.”

“Low tire pressure, bulges or blisters on the sidewalls, or dents in the rim. These problems will be visible and should be checked out as soon as possible as tires are the critical connection between your car and the road in all sorts of driving conditions.”

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