Potholes and the damage it causes!

So, you hit a pothole and it was loud...

Did it do any damage? How do you know where to check for damage? Is your tire going to slowly leak until it’s inconvenient for you to get a flat? Let us help you out in this slightly confusing situation!

What causes a pothole?

When water droplets get into the pavement (from rain or snow) and the pavement then freezes, which causes the pavement to expand. Then, when it thaws out, the pavement starts to crack and crumble. 

It’s also possible that potholes can arise from construction projects too.

How to avoid potholes

Obviously, drive around them, but most times this isn’t possible due to lack of visibility from other drivers/bikers/pedestrians/animals in the way.

Keep enough space between yourself and the driver in front of you. This way, you can watch their actions-swerving out of the way, sudden braking (signs of distracted and drunk driving, so keeping a safe distance is probably better anyway). This also allows you more time to spot the potholes (a fun game for your passengers to play too!)

Reduce your speed, especially in the rain and at night-you can’t see how deep or wide the potholes are with water or darkness in/around them. 

Drive the roads you know to know where potholes are or lack thereof. Although, potholes can literally form overnight, so still be wary and drive slower.

How to drive over one when there is no where else to go.

Keep your tire pressure up to your car manufacturer’s standards (and not too high-this can cause a flat quickly). This can help avoid flats from a pothole.

Drive slower by braking before you hit the pothole; this can alleviate some of the impact from the pothole to the vehicle

Try to maintain control of the steering to avoid any further damage.

What can be affected after hitting a large pothole:

• Alignment knocked out of whack
  
• Tire puncture, damage or wear (apparent). May need a tire rotation and balance.
  
• Wheel rim damage (mainly on aluminum rims). Can cause a vibration when driving or the balancing weights can be knocked off.
  
• Premature wear on shocks and struts
  
• Suspension damage (could be broken)
  
• Steering system misalignment and damage
  
• Exhaust system damage (can make funny noises post hit)
  
• Engine damage
  
• Uneven tire wear (long term effect)
  
• Early replacement of tires (long term effect)
  
• Undercarriage can be dented or punctured, causing fluid leaks and possible rust formation in the future.
  

Get your car checked ASAP if you suspect any of this.

Car inspection post pothole hit:

• Go for the tires first: Check for bulging, slits, holes or bent and damaged rims
  
• Pay attention to the way the car drives after: If it starts pulling to one side, it  could be an alignment problem.
  
• If it feels wobbly, squeaks or has vibration issues- it could be the struts or shocks.
  
• The breaks feel really touchy- it could be a brake problem or shock problem.
  
• If the steering wheel is crooked while going straight, the vehicle has become misaligned.
  
• Just get the vehicle checked out in a timely manner of anything seems wonky with your car; better safe than sorry.

Should you file an insurance claim?

If you have collision coverage, the insurance company can cover some of the costs...minus your deductible (which can be anywhere from 250$ to 1000$). So you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it to even file a claim; your insurance rates could go up after a claim filed under collision too. However, if the damage is major and seems worth it to file a claim, then go ahead.

A lot of drivers opt for skipping collision coverage to keep down on costs or they just don’t care enough about their car. However, when leasing or financing a car, it is required to have collision coverage on your policy. You have to check into what type of coverage the insurance company will cover; some will not pay for tire damage, as it may be considered wear and tear.

Sometimes, there are potholes on major roads and highways, which may cause an immediate flat to your car, leading to an accident. Then the liability coverage would come into play for the other driver(s) and collision would still be for your car. Any tire damage would likely be covered if there was enough damage to to the rest of the car.

Can the state cover the costs or damage to your vehicle?

So you hit a pothole and the damage is seemingly going to be expensive, but you don’t want to put a claim through your insurance company...well the state may be of help. 

First, the state needs to be aware of or notified about the pothole. Hopefully, they already knew about it, but it’s best to let them know via their form for pothole damage on the treasury’s website. But, if the pothole was on the turnpike or expressway type roads, you must make them aware on their personal websites.

For the damage claim, make sure you have a receipt of repairs, an estimate, a police report (if applicable, location and pictures (if applicable). It also has to be within 90 days of damage.

For the treasury, they have 3-6 months from date of awareness of said pothole to get back to you and fix it. Sometimes, you may be redirected to whoever is in charge of road construction, if they are the reason for the pothole. 

Now, your hopes may be up about a reimbursement for that flat tire, the state rarely pays and when they do, it’s not always the full cost of the repair or estimate. There are a  ton of factors that go into deciding who to pay out and who to deny. They generally feel motorists are partially responsible for not swerving around them.

Pedestrians and bikers watch out too; potholes can cause serious damage to you if you hit, ride or fall into one.

Mixing tires...do or don't?

So you get a flat tire that needs replacing and aren't sure if you should you replace the flat, all of the tires or just two? 

 

If you end up needing to replace a tire on your car, you might as well replace two or four. When choosing a new set of tires for your car, make sure you check what type your car needs first. The best option is to choose a tire that OE (original equipment or vehicle manufacturer) recommends and/or the car came with for optimal performance. However, some people may want to get a different performance out of their tires or to pay less.

If you are only getting two, match them to the remaining two tires you have on your vehicle now by size, type, tread, load index, speed symbol and possibly brand. Then put the new tires on the rear axle and move the older two to the front. If you don’t put the new tires on the back, it could lead to less grip on the road, hydroplaning and a possibility of losing control on the road.

In some countries, it is illegal to have tires that aren’t the same brand and type of tire on all four wheels.

 

If you can only afford one or really don’t want to get a pair or full set, make sure the new tire is placed on the rear axle with another tire with the deepest thread (even check the full sized spare) to avoid uneven wear or a variety of other problems.

It’s good to keep in mind that different seasoned tires and different tread tired should never be mixed.

Also, when choosing a new set/pair of tires, take into consideration the climate you live in: a lot of cars with come with all season tires, which is usually okay. But with dry, wet or snowy climates, other seasoned tires may be a better fit. Just keep with the same specs. If you do go with different specs for your tires than your car needs, be wary that it may not handle as well or wear unevenly, especially in bad weather or emergency situations. 

Some vehicles have what a “staggered fitment", which means the tires on the back need to be a different size than the front; so this is the exception to the rule.

Rotating tires can also be an important for the wear. Some vehicles don’t need it because the vehicle is aligned perfectly and all the mechanics allow the tire to wear evenly. But for the rest of us, getting your tires rotated can save and prolong the life of your tires. Your vehicle guide book should be able to tell you when to rotate them

Do you know what your car's emissions are doing to you?

 We don’t often think of air pollution while driving, but it affects more than we know. Here are some tips to help you drive better while helping your health and the environment. 

The obvious that’s affected is the ozone. All the gases coming from our vehicles (and other factories, etc.) have been breaking down the ozone layer little by little. That brings more sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts and problems among wildlife. Luckily, companies and countries all around the world have been on board with chemicals that aren’t as harmful. Now the ozone hole seems to be closing up, as long as we keep using the less harmful chemicals or find even better replacements.

Next, is the threat of global warming and climate change, which comes mainly from carbon dioxide. That offers a whole mess of problems that, I’m sure, we have all heard about and know the effects.

 

Then there is the harm it is causing people; the affects can be as little as a cough to as large as cancer. The pollutants from the cars can bother healthy people, but will especially affect small children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems or diseases. Not to mention, the pollutants can seep into the water and soil, which we can then ingest. 

But there are a few things the car companies are doing to help fix the emissions and air pollution:

Hybrid vehicles: These vehicles use both electric and a regular gas (or diesel) engine while running. They have also started doing automated start and shutoff while stopped to save even more gas/emissions.

Cleaner fuel: This was designed to rid or cut down on the use of diesel and petrol through the use of electric or other gases (compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum and gashol for example). This lessens the use of fossil fuels and in the end emits less emissions and pollution.

Fuel efficient vehicles: Cars use less gas and oil to go more miles per gallon, which means you spend less money for gas and don’t have to fill up as often. They’re popular right now because they save the driver time and money at the pump, they are fairly cheaper to buy, plus it’s better for the environment.

Electric vehicles: They run solely on electric, usually through a battery or generator. They take away exhaust emissions completely, but you do have to remember to charge them.

Drivers can also do something to lower emissions and save money on gas:

• Carpool and car sharing
  
• Driving the speed limit and no faster: This can cut down on unnecessary fuel usage
  
• Stopping, starting and idling less: This will cut down on carbon dioxide production and probably save you time and sanity in traffic
  
• Walking, taking public transportation or biking
  
• Don't rev the engine: It wastes fuel and can hurt your car
  
• Keep your tires properly inflated
  
• Don’t accelerate quickly or slam on the breaks: It can hurt your gas mileage too
  
• Keep a clean car: Excess weight can slow your car down and burn more fuel
  
  
  
  
   The government (EPA) also stepped in to lower the vehicle emission standards and have enforced emissions testing by the DMV.
   
   

Old VS New in safety!

COMMENT AT BOTTOM TO ENTER CONTEST!

The safety concerns between old cars styles versus new

To start there are crumple zones, which are parts of a vehicle (front and rear) that are made to ‘crumple’ easily in an accident to protect the passengers. They absorb the energy from the crash to avoid injury to anyone in the car by keeping the cabin intact during a sudden halt. The crumple zones started around 1990 and are in all cars now. 

 

Older cars have larger body frames, that a lot of people think is safer, but without the crumple zones, the passengers are subject to more injury and crushing. It is hard to shake people’s views that larger isn’t always safer, but once you watch the crash tests, it’s hard to argue.

Then there are the seat belts, which is always an argument of whether they are safe or not. In the 1960’s (and earlier), cars didn’t have the 3 point seat belt like they do now. In 1970 they became more popular for safety. Modern day cars have a tension system that holds you tight in an accident or sudden stop, which helps keep the passengers in place.

It wasn’t until about the year 2000 that 3 point seat belts were put in for the center backseat passenger, passenger head restraints were always used and child seat anchors (a metal hook behind the seats on top and bottom instead of just using the seat belt).

Airbags weren’t found in most cars before 1990, but since 1999, all cars must have them. Back when airbags were a new thing, the cars usually only had one in the driver seat, but some car companies started offering passenger and side airbags as options before the law required it.

In modern day, cars have multiple airbags ranging from the standard driver’s airbag to curtain airbags for the backseat passengers. 

ABS (anti-lock braking system) lets the brakes keep traction on the road and preventing 'lock-up' while trying to come to a quick stop. This wasn’t all that popular until the 70’s, but wasn’t widely used until closer to the 80’s and 90’s. It allows the car to have a shorter stopping time in an emergency, while still maintaining control. This means you can control the car around other vehicles or people on the road instead of uncontrollably sliding around to a stop somewhere near the road or into other cars and people.

A few other safety updates since the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s:

• Collapsible steering columns to avoid further injury to the driver

• Break away motor mounts (which allows the engine to go forward in a crash instead of toward the passengers)
  
  
• Reinforced door sidebars & throughout the sides of the car (allow the doors to stay strong and intact during a side impact)
  
  
• Technology to aide drivers in alertness, cruise control, maintaining lanes, calling for help after an accident, back up sensors and cameras and traction control, etc.
  
  
• The 90’s brought both driver and passenger side mirrors and less rear wheel drive car
  
  
• Power steering, non collapsing roofs in a roll, fuel tanks inside the frame, tempered & laminated windshields (so the glass doesn't shatter all over you)
  

There are a few things that are less safe now that modern day cars have a strengthen body:

•   A pillars have become larger and hard to see around, making larger blind spots
  
  
•  Rear windshields have less visibility with the head restraints and larger seat belts
  
  
• The horsepower available in modern day cars is a lot more than it used to be, so it may be harder to react quickly in an emergency.
  
  
• Of course, the technology in the car: radios, speakers, GPS and voice systems, etc. It is a lot to deal with and not feel distracted while driving.
  
  
• The tires are larger now, which isn’t so bad if you aren’t near snow and rain

Vintage cars look better and have a better feel to them, but modern cars are significantly safer and smoother to drive. So, if you insist on driving your vintage car, try to do it in good weather for shorter periods of time.  

COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR FAVORITE OLDER CAR AND WHY TO ENTER OUR CONTEST!!!!