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Potholes Shouldn't Ruin Your Spring
The end of winter and the start of spring is a much awaited event in almost every American household, but the glee is soon replaced by dread as families find themselves evading potholes on the road.
When a road ages due to weather, potholes begin to form. The pavement eventually begins to lose its ability to resist water, and small cracks start to appear. As water works its way down into the cracks and expands as it freezes, it pushes up on the pavement. And as vehicles pass every day on these unbalanced roads, potholes would eventually be created.
A pothole is the ultimate spoil-sport, as it can ruin both your wonderful morning in the spring and also your tires and wheels. The impact caused by a vehicle running over a pothole shoots up the vehicle, increasing the chances of both tire and wheel failure. Or, internal damage could eventually lead to tire failure weeks or months later. Since potholes are a menace to your tires and wheels, here are ways to keep your machine safe:
Keep your tires properly inflated. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help reduce damage from potholes and other road hazards.
Check the tread on your tires, because uneven wear can be a sign of misalignment. 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. Having a few quick words with a Firestone (tm) Complete Auto Care (tm) service representative can help you check the alignment of both your wheels and tires.
If you can't avoid hitting a pothole, do not brake during the impact. You will need to apply the precision technique of braking before your tires hit the pothole and release immediately before impact. The edge of the pothole would hit your tire and wheel system directly, as we mentioned, if you brake during the impact itself. Severe damage can be better avoided when a tire is rolling, rather than skidding, over a hole during braking.
Just as you undertake spring cleaning to get your house in order, take advantage of the warmer weather to make sure your tires and vehicle are also in the best possible condition. Think of the three R's - rotation, repair and replacement and one I - proper inflation.
Remember to check your tire pressure at least once a month and be sure to rotate your tires according to recommendations in your owner's manual. These are both simple, common sense maintenance techniques, as are the ones discussed above, that could help you protect your vehicle from the dangers of potholes.
When a road ages due to weather, potholes begin to form. The pavement eventually begins to lose its ability to resist water, and small cracks start to appear. As water works its way down into the cracks and expands as it freezes, it pushes up on the pavement. And as vehicles pass every day on these unbalanced roads, potholes would eventually be created.
A pothole is the ultimate spoil-sport, as it can ruin both your wonderful morning in the spring and also your tires and wheels. The impact caused by a vehicle running over a pothole shoots up the vehicle, increasing the chances of both tire and wheel failure. Or, internal damage could eventually lead to tire failure weeks or months later. Since potholes are a menace to your tires and wheels, here are ways to keep your machine safe:
Keep your tires properly inflated. Keeping your tires properly inflated will help reduce damage from potholes and other road hazards.
Check the tread on your tires, because uneven wear can be a sign of misalignment. 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. Having a few quick words with a Firestone (tm) Complete Auto Care (tm) service representative can help you check the alignment of both your wheels and tires.
If you can't avoid hitting a pothole, do not brake during the impact. You will need to apply the precision technique of braking before your tires hit the pothole and release immediately before impact. The edge of the pothole would hit your tire and wheel system directly, as we mentioned, if you brake during the impact itself. Severe damage can be better avoided when a tire is rolling, rather than skidding, over a hole during braking.
Just as you undertake spring cleaning to get your house in order, take advantage of the warmer weather to make sure your tires and vehicle are also in the best possible condition. Think of the three R's - rotation, repair and replacement and one I - proper inflation.
Remember to check your tire pressure at least once a month and be sure to rotate your tires according to recommendations in your owner's manual. These are both simple, common sense maintenance techniques, as are the ones discussed above, that could help you protect your vehicle from the dangers of potholes.