Wheel Alignment: Smart Driving Tips
Spring has arrived and along with it, pothole season! A common problem resulting from the bumpy roads is a loss of the proper wheel alignment. Drivers need to be extra careful navigating the roads this time of year. There are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole to reduce damage and loss of your car alignment. The preventative strategy is about being prepared, practice smart driving, and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you.
BEFORE: Avoid hitting a pothole with smart driving:
The best way to reduce the damage of a poor car alignment or tire failure is to avoid a pothole altogether!
Here are a Few Safe Driving Tips to Remember:
- Check your tire pressure. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and a sudden bump may rupture it if the wheel rims pinch against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are susceptible to damage as well.
- Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
- Beware of puddles–a deep and sharp-edged pothole may be lurking below.
- Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes.
- Stay focused on the traffic all around you. If other cars are swerving and stopping, it's because of a problem in the road. Don't cause an accident while swerving to avoid a pothole.
- Don't tailgate—this restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or the sudden braking by the driver in front of you.
DURING: React quickly:
- Brake only lightly, if at all, and be sure to let off the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds compresses the front-end suspension system. Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
- Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for other drivers, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and car alignment.
AFTER: Reduce the damage:
- Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. Minimize the damage to the wheel rim by pulling off the road as soon as possible to change the tire.
- Check tire rims to see if they were bent, or if there is visible cord material or bulging that could fail later while driving.
- If your car starts pulling to one side, it is likely that the wheel alignment is off and needs attention.
Fun Facts: Do you know....
- What was Ford's answer to the Chevy Corvette, and other legal street racers of the 1960's? Carroll Shelby's Mustang GT350.
- What was the first car fitted with an alternator, rather than a direct current dynamo? The 1960 Plymouth Valiant.
Needing a quality wheel alignment? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information about car alignment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
Spring has arrived and along with it, pothole season! A common problem resulting from the bumpy roads is a loss of the proper wheel alignment. Drivers need to be extra careful navigating the roads this time of year. There are things you can do before, during and after hitting a pothole to reduce damage and loss of your car alignment. The preventative strategy is about being prepared, practice smart driving, and reacting appropriately when a pothole sneaks up to surprise you.
BEFORE: Avoid hitting a pothole with smart driving:
The best way to reduce the damage of a poor car alignment or tire failure is to avoid a pothole altogether!
Here are a Few Safe Driving Tips to Remember:
- Check your tire pressure. If a tire is too soft, it handles poorly and a sudden bump may rupture it if the wheel rims pinch against the jagged edge of a pothole. Over-inflated tires are susceptible to damage as well.
- Have a clean windshield! Your field of vision is critical.
- Beware of puddles–a deep and sharp-edged pothole may be lurking below.
- Reduce your speed on roads that are prone to potholes.
- Stay focused on the traffic all around you. If other cars are swerving and stopping, it's because of a problem in the road. Don't cause an accident while swerving to avoid a pothole.
- Don't tailgate—this restricts your ability to anticipate potholes or the sudden braking by the driver in front of you.
DURING: React quickly:
- Brake only lightly, if at all, and be sure to let off the brakes entirely the moment before impact. Clamping down on your brakes at higher speeds compresses the front-end suspension system. Hard braking can actually cause greater contact between the tire and the pothole where it might otherwise glide over it.
- Do not swerve in a last ditch attempt to avoid the pothole. Aside from creating a hazard for other drivers, you risk hitting the pothole on an oblique angle, which can cause more damage to the tire, wheel rim and car alignment.
AFTER: Reduce the damage:
- Immediately pay attention to whether or not you have a flat tire. Minimize the damage to the wheel rim by pulling off the road as soon as possible to change the tire.
- Check tire rims to see if they were bent, or if there is visible cord material or bulging that could fail later while driving.
- If your car starts pulling to one side, it is likely that the wheel alignment is off and needs attention.
Fun Facts: Do you know....
- What was Ford's answer to the Chevy Corvette, and other legal street racers of the 1960's? Carroll Shelby's Mustang GT350.
- What was the first car fitted with an alternator, rather than a direct current dynamo? The 1960 Plymouth Valiant.
Needing a quality wheel alignment? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information about car alignment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
