If you’re driving along and you suddenly hit a pothole, you might be ok, but be on the lookout for some of these signs that you need to get to a mechanic.
When you’re driving down the road and encounter a pothole, oftentimes you either don’t see it and drive right over it (or you see it and go full speed anyway); It’s just a pothole, after all. Surely one little hole can’t do any lasting damage to your sturdy automobile, could it? You’ll usually get your answer a moment later when your car bounces into the air, followed by a disconcerting crunching sound and the distinct feeling that you’ve made a mistake.
Even if you don’t experience such an overt result from hitting a pothole full-on, there’s a very real possibility that your car has suffered some kind of damage from doing so. Commercial cars aren’t designed to handle that kind of sudden vertical lurch, so the parts on the lower side of the carriage could have been directly impacted. You should keep an eye out for certain warning signs of pothole-induced damage, and make an immediate appointment with your mechanic if you notice them.Visible wheel and tire damage
The very first thing you should be on the lookout for after hitting a pothole wrong is obvious signs of damage to your wheels and tires. Flat and punctured tires are the prime suspect here, as the impact from the pothole could have poked a hole in one of them, especially if the terrain is uneven or craggy. However, that is not the only thing that could go wrong.
Depending on the severity of the impact, as well as any existing wear on your wheels, you may find signs of tread wearing or bubbling on the tires or their inner lining.
