This post is part of a paid partnership with Cooper Tires, which provided information for this story. Learn more about protecting your tires and your car by following the hashtag #TakeOnPotholes on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Moms are always rushing! Well, I should say I often find myself rushing…sometimes no matter how I prep I find myself rushing! Rushing and running into potholes equal disaster on any day of the week!
A few years ago, my husband and I were rushing to get him to work and I was driving. We had two cars, however, when Emma was little he used to drop me off at my parents’ house while he went to work because he worked second shift and I didn’t like being home for the majority of the day by myself.
My husband was the last to come out of the house, and the baby and I were already in the car. I jumped in the driver’s side to drive because he was taking too long and because I drive faster. Well, this particular day my led foot got me in trouble! I took a shortcut through an industrial park, and I was “flying” until I hit a pothole and heard a big bump…a flat tire!! I felt horrible!!
My husband said we have a flat tire before he got out of the car. I was praying he was wrong but he was right! Prior to us leaving he told me not to go through the Industrial Park but me being hardheaded and stubborn I was thinking “I got this” and look at what happened! A flat tire that he had to fix!!!
We called our roadside assistance company but since it was cold they were saying they wouldn’t be able to get there until almost 2 hours! Darrick got out the car to look at the damage, and he didn’t say much he just started fixing the tire. From that day on, I will stop traffic before I run into a pothole at full speed! But in my defense, I didn’t see it or I would’ve dodged it. Prepping ahead of time, and slowing down was also a big lesson in this situation, we all know (well if you live in Cleveland) after the snow finally melts its prime season for massive potholes.
“Tire maintenance might not always be top of mind for drivers, but being aware of hazards along the road, such as potholes, can help save money in repairs and increase the lifespan of tires.” -Jessica Egerton, Director of Brand Development
Cooper Tire has done an amazing job on educating drivers on what to do when approaching a pothole, and protect your car while driving on hazardous roads through their “Tire Matters” guide!
Did you know there is a “right way” to hit a pothole?
One of the easiest ways to avoid pothole damage is to try to avoid hitting the pothole, by looking ahead and scanning the road to spot potential problems, or avoiding puddles whenever possible, as they could be hiding huge potholes. Drivers should make sure their tires have adequate tread depth and are properly inflated, as they are the only part of your car to come in contact with the road—and the pothole.
But sometimes avoiding a pothole isn’t possible. If you are headed straight for a pothole, you want to safely slow down as much as possible before you hit it, but be sure to release the brakes just before making contact. Hitting a pothole at a high speed will increase your chances of damage to your tires, wheels, and suspension.
Be road ready, and take care of your tires: Having a DIY road routine will keep you road-ready. In as little as 10 minutes, you can be all set.
• Check the pressure.
• Check the tread depth.
• Check the overall condition for cuts, cracks, splits, punctures, irregular wear, and bulges.
Checking tread depth is easy, and can be done with a U.S. Penny. The tread on your tires should be more
than 2/32 of an inch deep and can be checked by inserting a U.S. penny into the tread, with Lincoln’s
head facing down. If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, there is at least a minimum
acceptable amount of tread. If the top of his head is visible at any point around the tire, it is time to
replace the tire.
A breakdown on how to drive through a pothole:
• Slow down when approaching the pothole
• Release the brakes before your tires come in contact with the pothole
• Roll gently through the pothole
