It’s Nationwide Pothole Day and Tyresafe is highlighting the significance of pulling over, supplied it’s protected to take action, to carry out important tyre checks to make sure the security of their continued journey after hitting a pothole.
The highway security charity is urging motorists to not solely examine their tyres as quickly as it’s protected to take action, after an affect, however to additionally scale back the danger of an incident associated to pothole impacts by making certain that their tyres are appropriately inflated to lower the danger of harm to the tyre, wheel and suspension.
As a part of the Pothole Partnership, the AA can reveal that pothole associated incidents fell by 0.67% in 2024 when in comparison with the earlier 12 months.
Nonetheless, 2024 figures are nonetheless the third highest since 2017, with an estimated 1700 highway customers dealing with harm to their automobiles on account of highway defects.
In 2024, the AA dealt with 643,318 incidents of tyre, wheel, steering, and suspension harm attributable to potholes, signifying a considerable affect on roughly two million automobiles nationwide because of insufficient highway upkeep.
Potholes may cause unseen harm to tyres and wheels, placing drivers, passengers, and different highway customers in danger.
examine your tyres after hitting a pothole
- Examine for seen harm – Search for cuts, bulges, or tears within the tyre sidewall.
- Verify tyre strain – A drop in strain might point out inside harm.
- Have a look at wheel alignment – Steering pulling to 1 facet could point out alignment points.
- Search skilled recommendation – When doubtful, seek the advice of a tyre specialist.
TyreSafe emphasises the significance of correctly inflated tyres, which play an important position in dampening impacts from potholes.
Correctly inflated tyres act as a cushion, serving to to soak up the affect when a automobile hits a highway defect, in flip defending the wheel and suspension. As well as, correctly inflated tyres additionally help the tyre’s construction by way of the proper inside air strain.
If a tyre is incorrectly inflated, highway customers are at an elevated danger of experiencing a blowout, attributable to the tyre’s sidewall putting the rim.
Tyre strain additionally performs a big position in defending different automobile elements that may succumb to break when putting a pothole, together with the suspension, shocks and struts, springs, management arms and ball joints.
“Potholes will not be only a frustration for drivers; they’re a severe security hazard,” mentioned Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair.
“Elevating consciousness of the risks posed by potholes is important. Common tyre checks and upkeep after hitting a pothole may also help mitigate dangers and scale back the probability of future incidents. For those who’re uncertain whether or not your tyre or wheel is broken, at all times search skilled recommendation.”
