With fluctuating temperatures during the colder and warmer days of the year, serious issues may arise with the roads you travel on. Potholes commonly occur when water seeps through the cracks in the road. In colder climates, the water may freeze and push areas of the pavement up. Eventually, when the ice thaws, the pockets are no longer supported, causing certain parts of the road to collapse, and a pothole will appear.
While pothole repairs Lexington SC are a top priority for the area, you may still hit one of these areas in the road. Unfortunately, they can cause quite a bit of damage to your vehicle if you aren’t careful.
The Tires
Hitting potholes can cause serious damage to your tires. If the force is enough, it may cause the sidewall to blow out. If the impact causes your tire to lose air, the TPMS should light up (if your vehicle is new enough to have one). However, even if the tire is holding air, it doesn’t mean no damage has appeared. Look for bulges sticking out on the side of the tire. It could be a sign of internal damage, which means replacement is needed. Unfortunately, there’s no way to plug or patch the sidewall.
The Wheels
Because a pothole has hard angles, it can cause significant damage to the wheels. Look to see if there are any cracks or bends in the side of the wheel, where the rim and tire meet. If the wheel is bent, it will not roll properly, and the seal between the tire and wheel may be compromised. Replacement is usually needed in this situation because there is no option for repairs.
Don’t ignore damage to your vehicle caused by potholes. As time passes, the damage will just get worse and cost more to fix.