Keep Your Wheel Alignment in Place: Adopt Smart Driving Practices

As we discussed in a previous article, pothole season has arrived along with spring. Drivers need to be extra careful navigating the roads. Loss of the proper wheel alignment is a common issue resulting from the bumpy roads. There are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole. Preventive strategy is about preparation, driving skills and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you.

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BEFORE: Adopt smarter driving practices:

• Reduce any damage that a poor car alignment or tire failure can cause by following these smart driving tips:
• Check your tire pressure. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and a sudden bump may rupture it if the wheel rims pinch against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are susceptible to damage as well.

• Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
• Observe the vehicles ahead of you–if other cars are swerving and stopping, it's because of a problem in the road.
• Beware of puddles–it might have a nasty, deep and sharp-edged pothole lurking below.

• Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes. Slower hits generally involve less damage from a wheel alignment or tire failure.
• Stay focused and pay attention to the traffic in front, behind and alongside you. Don't cause an accident while swerving to avoid a pothole.
• Don't tailgate—this restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or sudden braking by the vehicle in front of you.

DURING: React quickly and intelligently:

• Brake only lightly, if at all, and be sure to let off the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds not only could result in a rear-end collision, but also compresses the front-end suspension system. Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.

• Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for vehicles immediately behind and beside you, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and car alignment.

AFTER: Reduce any damage:

Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. Pull off the road as soon as possible to change your tire to minimize the damage to your wheel rim.

Check tire rims to see if they were bent, if there is visible cord material or bulging that could fail later while driving.

Note if your car pulls to one side, suggesting that the wheel alignment is off and needs mechanical attention.

Is a wheel alignment needed? 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 serves vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.