When you hit a pothole, and it sounds expensive, it's hard to forget the gut-wrenching feeling. The hollow bang, the steering wheel jolting in your hands, and the quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, your car escaped unharmed. Sometimes it does. Sometimes, it doesn't.
Potholes are more than just an inconvenience; they're a stress test for many parts of your vehicle. And the damage they cause isn't always obvious right away. That's why we've put together this guide to potholes. We'll cover why these road craters exist in the first place, what to check after hitting a pothole, and what to do if you're concerned your car has sustained damage.
Key Takeaways:
- Potholes form over time, most often due to repeated freezing and thawing, combined with the stress of heavy traffic.
- A hard hit can cause tire damage, bent rims, alignment issues, and suspension wear.
- Common warning signs of pothole damage include pulling to one side, steering wheel vibration, uneven tire wear, and warning lights.
- A quick self-check helps, but a professional inspection is the safest way to catch hidden damage early.
- Firestone Complete Auto Care can inspect your alignment, tires, wheels, and suspension to prevent costly repairs down the road.
What Causes Potholes?
Potholes most often form when small cracks in the road let water seep beneath the surface. During cold months, that moisture freezes and expands, then contracts as it thaws. This repeated freeze-thaw cycle weakens the pavement from below. Add heavy traffic — especially semi-trucks — and the surface eventually collapses.
The result? A deep hole in the pavement that can seriously ruin your day. When your tire drops into it, the impact doesn't just hit the rubber. It transfers force through the wheel, suspension system, steering components, and more. That's why potholes can damage more than just your tires; they stress multiple parts of your vehicle all at once.
What Happens When You Hit a Pothole?
We all do our best to avoid hitting potholes, but sometimes, it's inevitable. So, what can happen to your vehicle when you hit one? Striking a pothole causes your vehicle to undergo a sudden compression and rebound. Your tire absorbs the first blow. Once the rubber collapses enough, that force is immediately transferred to the rim, then pushed up through the suspension system, steering components, and other connected parts of your vehicle. At speed, this sudden, violent impact can overwhelm components designed to absorb gradual bumps—not sharp, vertical strikes.
That's why potholes can damage more than just tires. A hard hit can pinch or rupture a tire's sidewall, bend or crack a rim, or knock your alignment out of spec in an instant. Even if your tire still holds air, internal damage may already have occurred. Beyond the wheel and the tire, the shock load can stress ball joints, wheel bearings, shocks and struts, and steering components. In some cases, low-clearance vehicles may even scrape the ground, damaging valuable exhaust system components like catalytic converters.
What to Do If You Hit a Pothole
The first thing you should do after hitting a pothole is stay calm. Then, carefully pull over and park in a safe location. Once you do, look for any obvious leaks underneath the vehicle, and inspect your vehicle for this kind of wheel and tire damage:
- Bulges or bubbles in the sidewall
- Cuts, cracks, or visible internal cords/belts
- Bent or dented rims
- Sudden loss of air (a flat tire)
If your tires look okay and there isn't any obvious damage to the underside of the vehicle, get back on the road and drive carefully. As you do, watch, listen, and feel for these less-noticed issues:
- A crooked steering wheel
- Shaking or vibration of the steering wheel
- Sloppy handling
- Pulling to one side of the road
- New clunks, rattles, or humming/grinding noises
- Illuminated tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) or stability control lights
- Changes in ride height or harshness
If you notice any of these issues, you should stop by for a complete vehicle inspection and an alignment check ASAP. And if everything feels completely normal after you drive for a while, phew! Your car may have made it through its brawl with the pothole unscathed. But what makes pothole damage especially tricky is that it doesn't always show up right away.
You might drive off thinking you got lucky, only to notice days later that your steering wheel is crooked, the car pulls to one side, or uneven tire wear has started to appear. These are the three hidden issues we mentioned in the title — subtle alignment changes, early suspension wear, or a damaged wheel bearing — that can quietly worsen over time, turning a single rough pothole into ongoing damage to your vehicle if left unchecked. That's why Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends routine maintenance visits, so we can catch minor problems before they turn into major headaches.
What Can Potholes Do to Your Car? (FAQs)
Can a Pothole Cause a Flat Tire?
Yes. Sidewall pinching and internal damage can cause a tire to go flat. In some cases, the tire may look fine at first but start triggering low-pressure warnings, refuse to hold air after being refilled, or develop a visible sidewall bulge days later.
Can a Pothole Damage a Rim?
Absolutely. Bent or cracked rims are common after sharp pothole impacts, especially when hit at speed. You may notice steering wheel vibration, air leaking where the tire meets the rim, or a tire that keeps losing pressure even though there's no nail or puncture.
Can a Pothole Damage a Wheel Bearing?
Yes, the shock from hitting a pothole can shorten bearing life or cause early failure. If you notice any new humming, grinding, or growling noises that increase with speed or change when turning, a damaged wheel bearing could be to blame.
Can a Pothole Damage Steering?
It can. Tie rods and steering components can bend or wear prematurely from hitting a pothole. If that happens, you might notice that your steering wheel sits off-center, your steering feels loose, or that your car pulls to one side even on a straight road.
Can a Pothole Damage Transmissions?
It's rare, but severe impacts could potentially damage mounts or related components, particularly in lowered vehicles. If new vibrations, clunks during shifting, or unusual drivetrain noises appear shortly after a hard pothole strike, it could be related to your transmission.
Can a Pothole Damage Your Suspension?
Hitting a pothole can absolutely require suspension repair. Ball joints, control arms, and shock and strut assemblies are especially vulnerable to sudden compression damage. If you notice clunking over bumps, excessive bouncing, uneven ride height, or handling that feels unstable, your suspension could have taken a hit.
Hit a Pothole and Worried About Your Ride? Firestone Complete Auto Care Is Here
If your car hit a pothole hard enough to make you wince, or you're now hearing a new noise, feeling vibrations, or fighting the steering wheel, it's smart to have things checked before surprise repairs pile up. Drop by your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care for a wheel alignment check and other pothole-related services. Our technicians can examine your tires for hidden sidewall damage, inspect suspension components, and make sure your wheels and rims are still road-safe. A quick visit today can save you from expensive repairs tomorrow. Schedule your inspection now and get your car driving straight and smooth again.
