Potholes Can Damage Your Car in Many Ways – Find Out How

Posted on: Jul 19, 2022 | | Written by:

Potholes Can Damage Your Car in Many Ways – Find Out How

Potholes, no matter how commonplace, can cause serious damage to cars. In a developed country like the US alone, potholes were responsible for nearly USD 3 billion in damages in 2016. The Indian government reported to the Parliament in 2021 that there were over 3,500 pothole-related accidents in 2020. Also, unlike major road discrepancies, potholes can spring up frequently and without warning, and are often difficult to spot. So, it is important to know how they can affect your car and if you can do something to prevent it. Keep a comprehensive car insurance policy handy as well, so that repairs don’t exhaust your savings.

What determines the extent of pothole damage?

1. The speed with which you hit the pothole

2. The depth of the pothole

3. Length of the pothole

4. Diameter of the tyres

Higher the speed of approach, greater is the potential for damage to your vehicle. And the same goes for the length and depth of the pothole as well. As for the diameter of the tyres, the smaller the wheel, greater is the impact.

What is the damage that potholes can cause?

Let’s look at the possible components they can damage:

• Tyres

Tyres are usually the first point of contact between your vehicle and the pothole. Impact damage on the tyres can cause sidewall bulges, separation of the tread, or even a puncture. If air seeps into the body of the tyre, there could be a blowout. Hard edges of the pothole can hit between the treads, causing the rubber to tear. Furthermore, depending on the force of impact, you could end up damaging the rim of the wheel, denting or causing it to crack. Overinflated and underinflated tyres, both suffer differing damage. The former is more prone to structural damage whereas the latter can result in ruptures.

• Wheels

The wheel has an airtight association with the tyres, which can be compromised with potholes. Denting or cracking the wheel will create an uneven roll, making the ride unpleasant and negatively affecting the fuel economy. Your wheel could become misaligned, affecting the handling and mileage as well. Underinflated tyres can cause wheel damage, as the shock is transferred to the wheel. Most wheels nowadays are aluminium alloys, which are more expensive, yet more susceptible to damage.

• Suspension

Suspensions are most vulnerable to upward movement of the shock that the tyres deliver. You could damage the shock absorbers, resulting in fluid leakage, or damage the components of your steering system such as the tie rod ends, springs, control arms, etc. This could lead to your car pulling to one side, or uneven wear on the tyres. These have an accelerated detrimental effect on the tyres and suspension set-up, needing immediate fixing.

• Body

Finally, low-riding cars can suffer body and undercarriage damage such as bumps, scrapes, scratches, etc. These can further cause rust to develop, damaging critical components in the undercarriage such as the exhaust system. Holes and breaches could develop in the exhaust pipes or the catalytic converter, leading to toxic fumes not being treated and discharged sustainably. Issues with the undercarriage must be resolved immediately, especially if it’s not simply cosmetic.

Additionally, to further enhance your safety on the roads, check out this article on Top 5 Tips to Drive Safely on Damaged Roads.

So, what can you do?

For starters, drive at a slow speed when approaching a pothole. Do not make rapid, evasive manoeuvres to avoid potholes as that could lead to even graver consequences, depending on the traffic. If you cannot avoid the pothole, ensure your speed is gradually lowered to a safe degree. Don’t stop suddenly to assess the damage, or even out of shock, as you would make yourself vulnerable to being hit from behind. And finally, if you’re unable to avoid a pothole, get your car inspected for damage as soon as you can. Avoid travelling on a bent or dented wheel, broken or damaged suspension, or a compromised undercarriage. You will only end up making the problem worse. Head to your car insurance provider’s affiliated garage to keep your out-of-pocket expenses in check. But remember, prevention is always better than cure.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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