Can a Pothole Cause Unseen Vehicle Damage?

Potholes can be both frustrating and worrying. At a glance, they pose little to no threat to both our safety and that of our vehicles. On impact, a small bump, slight veer, or even a temporary reduced steering grip is all you will feel. If you are lucky, these minor disturbances are all you may suffer.

However, for those who aren’t as lucky, it is crucial that you fix pothole damage on your car immediately. Pothole damage can range from a crack on the wheel, a tire puncture, or even a bent rim. Worse damage may render your suspension faulty, or damage the shocks. If such damages are not checked and fixed in a timely manner, they may lead to full-blown issues in the future.

Upon impact with a pothole, the inner tire liner can become damaged, resulting in a bulge. A bulge is a result of the edge of your tire being pinched against the pothole edge. Air is then able to escape into this bulge creating a bubble-like bump on the tire.

This predisposes you to a full blowout if not promptly addressed. Additionally, it severely compromises both your safety and that of other drivers on the road. In some rare cases, the thread may peel off from the tire. This is particularly common in sports cars that are fitted with thin, low-profile tires. Such cars have reduced impact absorption abilities making them more prone to pothole damage.

When wheels hit a pothole, all or some of the wheels may become misaligned. Such misalignment makes it difficult for the vehicle to drive in a straight line. Instead of driving straight, your car will continuously pull in one direction.

Another issue that may bring about wheel misalignment can be uneven tire wear. Misaligned wheels not only have reduced life spans but also increase the risk of accidents. Other common signs of wheel misalignment include dashboard warning signs, a squatting rear end when accelerating and the vehicle showing a “bottom out” on pumps.

The city streets can be tough on your vehicle. We all do our best to dodge the obvious large potholes when driving, but sometimes they are unavoidable. Uneven roads and potholes can wreak havoc on your vehicle's tires, suspension, and frame.

Whether your vehicle has a bent rim or steering problems from a damaged road, you need to know you can get safely where you need to go without causing further problems. But what if you unsuspectingly hit a pothole only to discover there is no visible damage to your vehicle? Auto body and repair experts of the auto body repair shops in St Petersburg FL can help you determine if your vehicle has unseen damage from potholes and other road hazards.