Berglund CDJR: Why You Should Avoid Potholes

Driving around Roanoke, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of potholes. While swerving around them might feel like just another hassle on the road, those craters can cause serious and costly damage to your vehicle. The experts at Berglund CDJR in Roanoke, VA, have broken down why you should avoid potholes, what kind of damage they cause, which vehicle systems are most at risk, and how you can protect your vehicle from long-term issues.

What Makes Potholes So Harmful?

Potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the pavement, freezes, and expands, leaving behind gaps that grow larger as traffic passes over them. While they may look harmless, hitting a pothole at even a moderate speed can jolt your vehicle in ways it wasn’t designed to handle.

Here’s why potholes are such a problem for drivers in Virginia:

• They can blow out tires instantly.
• They can bend or crack wheels.
• They throw off your vehicle’s suspension and steering.
• They cause alignment issues that lead to uneven tire wear.
• They may even damage undercarriage components like exhaust systems.

How Potholes Damage Your Tires

The first point of contact with a pothole is your tires. Hitting one too hard can:

• Cause Sidewall Bulges (weak spots that lead to blowouts)
• Create Flat Spots or Punctures
• Shorten Tread Life by Throwing Off Alignment

Tires are one of the most common – and most expensive – parts to replace if potholes are ignored. Keeping them in good shape is critical, especially if you drive daily across Roanoke’s busy streets and highways.

The Impact on Wheels and Rims

More than just your tires, your wheels also suffer from damage when you hit a pothole. Most used on many Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM vehicles are aluminum alloy rims. When you hit a pothole, your vehicle’s wheels can bend or crack. This can result in vibrations while driving or even slow air leaks that may go undetected until it’s too late and you’re stranded with a flat.

Suspension and Steering Damage

Potholes don’t just affect what you can see – they also hit your suspension hard. Shocks, struts, ball joints, and tie rods can all be damaged. When that happens, your vehicle may:

• Pull to One Side
• Feel “Loose” Over Bumps
• Produce Clunking or Rattling Noises

For Roanoke drivers, suspension issues make local commutes less comfortable and highway driving less safe.

Alignment Issues Add Up

Even if the damage isn’t immediately obvious, potholes can knock your wheels out of alignment. That means your tires don’t point straight ahead anymore, creating:

• Uneven Tread Wear
• Reduced Fuel Efficiency
• Steering Wheel Vibration

Misalignment often isn’t caught immediately. Most of the time, you realize there’s an alignment issue when your vehicle’s tires wear prematurely. Stay on top of the damage and bring your vehicle in to our service center at Berglund CDJR for routine alignment checks. A little extra maintenance now can prevent heftier repair bills later.

What to Know About Potholes and Your Undercarriage

In rare cases, potholes may cause leaks in your oil pan or damage drivetrain components, particularly in low-clearance vehicles. For larger vehicles like RAM trucks, the clearance helps, but even SUVs and crossovers aren’t immune when hitting a pothole at the wrong angle.

How to Protect Your Vehicle from Pothole Damage

Avoiding every pothole on the road just isn’t practical. However, you can reduce the risk by:

• Keep Tires Properly Inflated: Underinflated tires are more likely to blow out on impact.
• Slow Down in Rough Areas: Hitting potholes at high speed increases the damage.
• Stay Alert in Wet Weather: Potholes often fill with water, hiding their depth.
• Maintain Regular Inspections: Have your alignment, tires, and suspension checked at each service visit.

At Berglund CDJR in Roanoke, VA, our certified technicians can quickly spot pothole damage and recommend the right repairs before it becomes a bigger issue.

Why Roanoke Drivers Turn to Berglund CDJR

Potholes are unavoidable on Virginia roads, but they don’t have to shorten your vehicle’s life. Drivers across Roanoke trust our dealership and service center for expert service, alignment checks, tire repairs, and genuine OEM parts. With our experienced team and state-of-the-art equipment, we make it easy to keep your car, truck, or SUV in top shape.

Schedule Service for Pothole Damage in Roanoke, VA

If you’ve recently hit a pothole and noticed changes in the way your vehicle drives – like vibrations, uneven tire wear, or pulling to one side – don’t wait. Schedule a service appointment with Berglund CDJR in Roanoke, VA, today. We’ll inspect your tires, wheels, suspension, and alignment to make sure you’re safe on the road.

Avoiding potholes isn’t just about comfort – it’s about protecting your vehicle and your wallet.

Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.