The Dangers of Potholes and How to Protect Your Car This Spring

The Front Range is a pothole factory in March. Snow melts during the day, water seeps into pavement cracks, then refreezes overnight and pops the asphalt apart. By the time CDOT and the city patch them, you have already hit two on the Diagonal and one on Foothills Parkway.

What a pothole actually breaks

The damage is rarely just a flat tire. A bad hit at speed can cause:

• Bent wheels (especially aluminum alloys) that cause vibration above 50 mph
• Tire sidewall bulges from internal cord damage, not always visible immediately, eventually a blowout
• Bent control arms or tie rods, which throw alignment off and cause uneven tire wear
• Damaged shocks or struts, especially on cars with worn suspension to begin with
• Cracked oil pans or transmission cases on lowered cars or deep enough holes

How to react when you cannot avoid it

You see the hole at the last second. You cannot change lanes. Now what?

• Do not brake at the moment of impact. Braking loads the front suspension, which is already about to take the hit. Brake before the hole, then release and roll through.
• Hands firm on the wheel. A hard hit can yank the wheel out of a loose grip and pull you across a lane.
• Hit it square if you can. A glancing angle is worse than a head-on impact for sidewall damage.

What to check after a hit

Within a few miles you should know:

• Steering wheel still centered when going straight?
• Any new vibration at speed?
• Pull to one side?
• New noise over bumps?
• Tire holding pressure?

Any "yes" is a reason to come in. Pothole damage is one of those things that gets worse the longer you drive on it. A tire with internal damage will eventually let go. A bent wheel kills tire life. A bent tie rod chews through tires in a thousand miles.

Prevention, when possible

• Slow down in known pothole zones (south Foothills, the Diagonal between Boulder and Longmont, every parking lot in March)
• Leave more space behind the car ahead so you can see the road surface
• Keep tires at the right pressure (underinflated tires absorb more damage)
• Address worn suspension before pothole season, not after

The free check

If you have hit something that scared you, drive in. We will put it on the alignment rack, look at suspension components, check the tires for sidewall damage, and tell you whether you got away with it or whether something needs attention. No charge for the look.