01/30/2024
POTHOLES !!!!!!
Be careful Knoxville they are popping up everywhere !!
How much damage do potholes cause to vehicles?
When a tire roles over irregularities in the road, most of the force exerted on the suspension is directed upward because the bottom of the tire is what touches the road. The higher up the tire the impact is, the more force there is pushing the tire both up and back. When a wheel hits a pothole, it drops into the hole and has to roll out of it. The damage is almost never due to the wheel entering the hole, but rather the impact on exit. The amount of damage depends on the diameter of the tire, the depth and length of the pothole, and the speed of the vehicle. The smaller the wheel diameter, the more severe the impact, especially if the depth of the hole is the same as the diameter of the wheel. Longer potholes cause the most damage—to things like the vehicle frame or platform— because at practically any speed, because the chassis could hit bottom before exiting.
One hole in the road: Many types of damage. When you drive into a pothole, it’s not just the tire that absorbs the impact. Other components are also affected. The most common types of damage are loss of a hubcap, a damaged tire, a bent or broken wheel, wheels knocked out of alignment, damaged suspension components, bent steering parts, and damaged shock absorbers.
Tires, the frontline for potholes
The tire absorbs the impact first, and this can break its interior structure, tear the sidewall, or both. An overinflated tire runs a greater risk of structural damage, whereas an underinflated tire might rupture when squeezed between the pothole and the wheel.
Low-profile tires—more and more late-model cars are equipped with them—can sustain severe damage from this kind of impact. If you have any doubts, it would be wise to have your tires examined by a specialist. They’ll be able to tell if a tire’s belt is broken, which could pose a serious safety hazard.
Wheels are also harmed by holes in the road
If the tire doesn’t absorb the full impact—if it’s underinflated, for example—the wheel will suffer the consequences. It may bend, crack, or break as a result.
Repair options for a wheel are quite limited, so more often than not it will have to be replaced. Alloy wheels are more fragile and more expensive.
How potholes affect your suspension .
When a wheel falls into a pothole, it is subject to both vertical and horizontal force. These forces are transmitted to the suspension, which is meant to move up and down. If there is enough horizontal force, suspension parts (like the suspension arm) as well as the steering linkage (or tie rod) can be damaged and the wheels knocked out of alignment ?
If the wheels are not realigned, tires can wear quickly and driving may become noticeably uncomfortable. A wheel alignment can cost $50 to $150 or more, depending on how sophisticated the steering system is and how much damage has been done.
