Potholes — The car killer

Sadly, I'm sure we can all relate to that dreaded pounding feeling after hitting that one pothole we always try to avoid in our neighborhood. Potholes are car killers. According to Firestone Auto Care , hitting a pothole can cause expensive damage to your tires, wheel rims and suspension; cause premature wear on shocks and struts, interfere with your vehicle's steering system… the list goes on and on. While we can't prevent potholes, we can learn how to finesse our way down the road and adopt smarter driving practices to help avoid these awful holes on the road. Here's six tips to help keep the dents out of your wallet and the bottom of your vehicle.

1. Check tire pressure and keep it at the recommended PSI. If tire pressure is not at the recommended amount, the wheel may split if it is rubbed against the rough edges of a pothole.
2. Observe the traffic in front of you. If other cars are swerving around and constantly switching lanes, there's a good chance that there's something in the road they're hoping to avoid and you should too!
3. Watch for puddles. These tiny bodies of water may be much deeper than they appear.
4. Keep a clean windshield to keep visibility high.
5. Reduce speed on roads you know are prone to having deep potholes — going slower will reduce damage if you do run into a pothole.
6. Be aware of the amount of traffic wherever you may be driving. If you see a pothole further in the road, you'll probably have the instinct to swerve around it. However, if there's a car right beside you, you'll find yourself with a bigger problem than running into a pothole.

While there are no fool-proof ways to avoid potholes, being aware of your surroundings will help prevent the worst of damages to your car. Take a deep breath and stay safe!

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