Driving Tips From An Auto Shop: Survive Pothole Season!

Have you counted up the number of potholes you drive over during your commute to work or school? Some of them may be quite large, resulting in a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride. This is the time of year drivers should be extra careful navigating the roads, especially on rainy days and at times close to dawn and dusk. Vehicle damage caused from potholes is one of the most common reasons auto shops remain busy this time of year.

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Potholes are typically caused when the constant freezing and thawing of water under the pavement weakens the road and causes large cracks, which when combined with the weight of vehicles, eventually turn into potholes. A severe winter (such as most of the U.S. has seen this year), often results in roads full of potholes and auto centers inundated with damaged vehicles.

To help reduce the risk of incurring damage to your car from driving over potholes, a reliable auto shop offers these driving tips:

• Leave plenty of room in front of your vehicle so you can avoid potholes without getting into an accident.
• If you can't avoid a pothole, slow down before you hit it. More damage can actually be caused by braking directly over a pothole.
• If you have to drive over the pothole, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
• Use caution when driving over a puddle of water--it might be a particularly deep pothole in hiding.
• Take roads you are familiar with so you know about where the potholes are located.
• At night, try to drive on well-lit roads so you can see the surface--and any potholes.

Most drivers know that running over a large pothole is bad for tires. Even small potholes can cause serious damage, such as alignment problems or structural damage to the tire itself. Potholes may also cause tires to blow out if they are underinflated.

Unfortunately, damage isn't limited to just tires. Some potholes can have as much impact on your car as a 35 mph car crash! In a blink of the eye, you can experience even more extensive damage to your car's shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, rims and alignment.

Be sure to take your vehicle into an auto shop before any damage gets worse if you notice any of the symptoms below:

• The car pulling toward the left or right, instead of going straight (could be an alignment problem)
• Uneven tire wear (also an indication of an alignment problem).
• Low tire pressure.
• Bulges or blisters on the tire sidewalls.
• Dents in the wheel rims.
• Loss of control, swaying when making turns, bouncing excessively on rough roads, or bottoming out on city streets (steering or suspension problems).

Is your vehicle suffering from pothole damage and you need a trustworthy auto center? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Price's Precision auto shop today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto shop in Billings, MT, also services vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.