Why to Avoid Potholes in Greenville, NC

Why Potholes Are Bad for Your Car

No matter where you drive, you're bound to hit potholes and bumps. A pothole is a depression or hole in a road surface caused by a combination of weather conditions, traffic loads, and road construction quality. Such road defects can be minor inconveniences or serious hazards depending on their size and depth.

You should avoid potholes regardless of whether your car can roll over them. Repetitive exposure causes vehicles to wear out faster, requiring frequent repairs.

Effects of Potholes on Your Vehicle

It is common for drivers to perceive small holes in the road as minor inconveniences. However, it is important to know that driving over potholes can damage your vehicle's wheels, undercarriage, and suspension.

Tires and Wheels Damage

Potholes can lead to tire punctures in addition to tread separation and sidewall bulges. When you hit a pothole, the hard edge can slice your tire rubber.

Whenever a wheel hits a pothole, it can be scraped and sometimes bent. This may prevent the tire from forming an airtight seal with the wheel. If your tires have hairline fractures and small cracks, a wheel replacement might be necessary.

Damage to the Suspension

Honda's suspension system withstands bumps and absorbs impacts. However, when your vehicle rolls over potholes and bumps, it accelerates wear and leads to performance loss. Meanwhile, a massive impact can damage shocks, break ball joints, or even bend axles. If your suspension is damaged, you may notice the vehicle pulling to one side, making unusual noises, or vibrating after hitting a pothole.

Problems With the Undercarriage

Low-riding cars handle better, but potholes can damage them more easily. Potholes can scrape low-hanging bumpers and side skirts. Potholes are also likely to damage your Honda's undercarriage. This can lead to scrapes and dents in the exhaust pipes, mufflers, and catalytic converter, which in turn can cause rust and leaks. If potholes are common in your area, consider equipping your vehicle with off-road accessories such as an underbody protector.

Loose or Damaged Bumpers and Side Skirts

The bumper is one of your vehicle’s most important protective components. However, it's also one of the most easily damaged by large, deep potholes. Potholes can damage low-hanging bumpers and side skirts. Despite being cosmetic and not affecting performance or safety, this type of damage can be costly to repair.

Exhaust System Damage

Due to their position along the undercarriage, potholes often damage exhausts. In deep potholes, a car can bottom out and scrape the undercarriage along the bitumen, which can dent or tear a hole in the exhaust system. If there's a hole in your exhaust system, you may lose power or hear unpleasant noises, but the worst part is that harmful emissions will be released.

Issues With Wheel Alignment

Potholes can knock your Honda's wheels out of alignment. Wheel alignment problems could lead to unpleasant and potentially dangerous consequences, such as vibrations, poor steering, and premature or irregular tire wear.

Keep Your Honda Safe From Potholes

Careful driving may not be enough in areas with potholes. To minimize damage, ensure that your Honda vehicle can handle rough terrain.

Ensure that your tires are in good condition. Checking your tires before and after traveling is always a good idea. Our technicians at Barbour-Hendrick Honda Greenville can check if your tires are making loud noises, rolling unevenly, or have bulges or dents.

Inflate your tires properly. Potholes are more dangerous to tires that are overinflated or underinflated. In addition, properly inflated tires prevent flats and bent wheels. You can find the recommended inflation level in your owner's manual or on the doorjamb of your vehicle.

Boost your car's ground clearance. By increasing your vehicle's ground clearance, you can avoid damaging it when hitting potholes. Potholes are less likely to damage taller vehicles or vehicles equipped with off-road tires. If you live in a pothole-prone area, buy a model with plenty of clearance. The Honda Passport 2024, for instance, has 8.1 inches of ground clearance.

Providing Pothole Damage Repair in Greenville, NC

Get professional assistance if your vehicle hits a pothole and gets damaged. With Barbour-Hendrick Honda Greenville's service department, drivers in Greenville, NC, can expect reliable service and awesome deals.