Arghh, some of them that San Diego roads are potholed messes damaging driver tires and nerves. Rich White, executive director of the non-profit Car Care Council offered some pothole advice earlier this year in connection with national Car month.
“Hitting a pothole with your car can do a real number on tires, wheels, steering and suspension, and alignment,” White said. “To help determine if hitting a pothole has damaged your vehicle, watch for these warning signs:
· Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and/or struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units and tie rod ends.
· Pulling in one direction, instead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear, are symptoms of an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is important for the lifespan
of tires and helps ensure safe handling.
· Low tire pressure, bulges or blisters on the sidewalls, or dents in the wheel rim will be visible and should be checked out as soon as possible, as tires are the critical connection between your car and the road.
If you’ve hit a pothole, it can be difficult to know if your vehicle has been damaged in the process, so have a professional technician check out the car and make the necessary repairs to ensure safety and reliability.
If you have concerns with potholes and cracking let the San Diego county Department of Public Works know by filling out the information at this link anytime: www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/roads/onlineroadservicerequestform.html or by calling (877) 684-8000 Toll-Free during normal business hours.
