AAA Offers Strategies to Protect Vehicles From Pothole Damage

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 29, 2003 -- With winter on the way, AAA warns motorists that potholes have the potential to damage a vehicle's suspension components and create costly repairs.

"Hitting even one severe pothole could alter wheel alignment, affect vehicle handling and cause uneven tire wear," says Gary Klopp, Director of AAA Automotive Services. "Uneven tire wear means the tire will need to be replaced sooner than necessary, causing a needless expense."

During AAA's Car Care Month in October, AAA offers the following recommendations to help protect vehicles against the jarring experience of a pothole encounter:

  -- 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 for the correct pressure.

  -- Watch for potholes 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.

  -- If a pothole can't be avoided, slow down.  Hitting a pothole at high
     speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts
     and/or springs.  High speed also increases the chance of losing control
     of the vehicle, especially if a series of potholes occurs on a curved
     roadway.

  -- When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly
     to avoid losing control.

  -- Don't brake when directly over a pothole.  Applying the brakes causes
     the car's weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase
     damage from the impact.

  -- Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole.

In addition, a broken shock or strut can alter the steering and handling of a vehicle and create dangers when driving at higher speeds or in tight corners. Any broken suspension components should be remedied immediately.

AAA recommends that motorists who suspect their vehicle may have been damaged by a pothole should take it to a qualified repair facility, where it can be carefully inspected and serviced, if necessary.

There are more than 7,500 AAA approved shops nationwide, and the names and addresses of these shops can be located at www.aaa.com or by calling your local AAA motor club. AAA approved shops have met the association's requirements for employing qualified technicians, meeting and exceeding customer satisfaction requirements, using quality parts and service equipment, and following ethical business practices. AAA members are entitled to free vehicle inspections when having other work, such as an oil change, performed on their vehicles.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves nearly 170,000 members in Hennepin County.