Potholes Pose Plenty of Problems

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Feb 28, 2011, 11:04 ET

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – As we leave behind the worst winter in recent memory, there are many reminders left in the form of potholes. Drivers know immediately when they hit a pothole, but what they don't know is if their vehicle has been damaged in the process. To help determine if hitting a pothole has damaged your vehicle, watch for the following warning signs provided by the Car Care Council.

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.

"Record snow falls, frigid temperatures and wintery rainfall have left us with plenty of potholes," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Hitting a pothole can cause plenty of problems, damaging tires, wheels, steering and suspension, wheel alignment and more. If you've hit a pothole, it's worth having a professional technician check out the car and make the necessary repairs to ensure safety and reliability."

Potholes occur when water permeates the pavement – usually through a crack from wear and tear of traffic – and softens the soil beneath it, creating a depression in the surface of the street. Many potholes appear during winter and spring months because of freeze-thaw cycles, which accelerate the process. Potholes can also be prevalent in areas with excessive rainfall and flooding.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council's Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

SOURCE Car Care Council