And unlike a nail-type puncture, a flat caused by a pothole can’t be temporarily fixed with a tire sealant kit. This underscores the value of having a spare tire onboard, even if it is a small, space-saver tire. Without a spare, a flat from a pothole means calling a tow truck.]
“A pothole strike can cause a hidden danger. Tires can sustain internal structural damage that cannot be seen by simply looking at them,” says Ryan Pszczolkowski, Consumer Reports’ tire program manager. “It may hold air and look fine, but the tire could potentially have damage that could shorten its life. My best advice: Always have tires and wheels inspected after pothole strikes.”
But tires aren’t the only things that can be hurt by a hard strike. A pothole can bend or break the rim of the wheel, preventing it from seating properly against the bead of the tire. And bits of the suspension could be harmed.
“Steering and suspension parts can be damaged, bent, or become loose,” says Mike Crossen, lead technician at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center. He says, “The vehicle’s alignment might be off, causing tire wear and other safety concerns. And there is even possible damage to subframes or body structures.”
The shape and depth of the pothole and the speed at which you are driving all factor into the severity of potential damage, but there are other considerations.
Many cars, for example, now come with low-profile performance tires, which have short, stiff sidewalls that can’t flex and conform to a pothole edge as well as a taller, softer tire can. As a result, such performance tires are more prone to damage from potholes. (This is something for car shoppers in the Snow Belt to keep in mind.)
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