Pothole season is here

    PORTLAND, Maine — The combination of freezing cold temperatures and the recent winter rains is causing the emergence of new potholes. Potholes, caused by water working its way into asphalt and cracking it, can damage vehicle suspension components and increase the possibility of costly repairs, said Tom Giasson AAA Northern New England approved auto repair manager.
Another culprit that seasonally wreaks havoc on our vehicles and poses safety concerns is the formation of frost heaves. Frost heaves are the result of soil under the pavement freezing and thawing causing mounds and dips and cracked pavement.
Giasson recommends the following tips to help protect vehicles — and drivers — against the jarring experience of hitting a pothole in their path.
Maintain proper air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual or the sticker on the driver’s side door jamb, inner glove box or inside of the fuel filler flap for the correct pressure.
Watch for potholes and frost heaves by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Alert drivers have plenty of time to avoid potholes. Before swerving around a pothole, be sure to check surrounding traffic to determine if it’s safe to change lanes.
Maintain a safe speed for the weather conditions. If a pothole cannot be avoided, slow down, if possible. Hitting a pothole at high-speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts, springs or suspension components. High speed also increases the chance of losing control of the vehicle, especially if a series of potholes occurs on a curved or uneven roadway.
When driving over more than one pothole, reduce vehicle speed and hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
If possible, don’t brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the vehicle and can increase damage from the impact.
Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole. “Hitting even one severe pothole could alter the alignment of a wheel from suspension damage resulting in uneven tire wear. Uneven and premature tire wear means the tire will need to be replaced sooner than necessary and increase fuel consumption at needless expense,” said Giasson.
“A broken shock or strut from hitting a pothole could alter the steering and handling of a vehicle, and create dangers when driving at higher speeds or in tight corners. Broken or damaged suspension components should be remedied immediately,” Giasson added.
The most common repairs needed resulting from traveling over potholes are front-end alignments, replacing wheel/ tires, damaged shock/suspension components, cracked windshields and damaged ball joints.
Motorists who suspect their vehicle may have been damaged by a pothole should take their vehicle to a quality repair facility such as an AAA Approved Auto Repair or AAA Approved Auto Glass facility where it can be carefully inspected, and serviced, if necessary.
Maintaining your vehicle’s tires is also crucial to safe driving, said Giasson. Every other fill-up, walk around the vehicle and check tires for uneven or excessive tread wear as well as proper inflation. Refer to the vehicle’s doorjamb or glove box for original equipment specifications or the manufacturer of the replacement tire for proper tire pressure inflation, he added. AAA also recommends a tire rotation approximately every 5,000 miles, said Giasson. Check your owner’s manual for your specific vehicle’s service recommendations.
There are more than 200 AAA approved repair facilities in Northern New England and more than 7,500 approved repair facilities in North America. The names and addresses of these shops can be located at www.AAA.com or by calling your local AAA office. All AAA-approved repair shops are required to prominently display their affiliation with the Auto Club outside their place of business and many advertise AAA approval in the telephone directory and on the web.