After the long winter, paved city roads are susceptible to potholes. While your car is unlikely to suffer any serious structural damage from driving over a pothole, it can still do damage to your tires, your suspension, your alignment, and even your engine. These issues might not be apparent to you right away, but if you pay close attention, you might notice that your car may need some repair. If this is the case, bring your vehicle in to our friendly service center at Toyota of Hopkinsville in Hopkinsville, KY. Our experts will get you back on the road safely in no time so you can focus on getting where you need to go.
Signs of Damage from Potholes
The most common issues associated with potholes are damaged tires and uneven alignment. All your wheels should point in the same direction when in the default position; if at least one does not, your vehicle is misaligned. Driving over a pothole may knock the wheel or wheels that hit it out of alignment. If you've driven over larger potholes in Clarksville, you might notice that your vehicle is drifting to one side, your tires have uneven wear, your front end feels unsteady, or that your steering wheel is slightly to the side even when you're driving straight. These are all signs of poor alignment that should be checked out. It is imperative that misalignment is taken in for repair as it may significantly compromise your safety.
In addition to misalignment, potholes can wear down the treads on your tires in specific places or even puncture your tires. If you find your local roads are particularly rocky this season, check your tires regularly to make sure no severe damage has occurred.
If your tires are too worn or aren't properly inflated, a deep pothole could even be enough to blow them out. Blowing out a tire on the road puts the driver and all passengers at great risk of serious injury. It may also cause severe damage to your vehicle if it results in a collision, especially at higher speeds. If you want to avoid a breakdown or collision on Russellville roads, take your vehicle in for inspection at our service center to make sure your tires are in good shape.
Your suspension can also take a beating from potholes. Your vehicle's suspension includes parts such as shock absorbers, which will keep some of the force from driving over things like bumps, debris, and potholes from transferring to the rest of your car. However, if you drive over potholes frequently, your shock absorbers will wear down from such frequent impact. If the front of your vehicle dips when you brake or you hear slight squeaking noises when you drive after hitting one too many potholes, you might have suspension issues. Again, have these checked out as soon as possible.
Visit Us for a Check-Up
After the winter, Hopkinsville may authorities take a while to repair road damage from excess snow, ice, and other weather-related conditions. Until the potholes in your neighborhood are filled in, make sure that your vehicle doesn't take too much of a beating from them. And if you can't avoid vehicle damage, be sure to inspect your vehicle periodically for any issues that need immediate attention. If you suspect that you've taken some damage from a rough road, visit our Toyota of Hopkinsville. We can make sure that your vehicle is in great shape again so that you can drive safely on all your travels.
