A problem that normally starts to become more of a nuisance in the spring has made an early appearance this year. The constant freezing and thawing is leaving more potholes in the road.
That has MDOT warning drivers to be on the lookout, since hitting a pothole can leave you paying thousands of dollars for repairs. But there are some things you can do both when you're driving and before you get on the road so you don't damage your car.
Mechanics like Craig Fountain at Randall Automotive in Lansing say your best bet is slowing down.
"If you hit a pothole hard enough you can bend components and the car can be out of alignment," Fountain said.
Speed alone isn't going to stop the damage though.
"Shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel barrings," said Fountain, listing off some of the repair his shop has made so far this year.
He says that's why a driver's best protection is getting their car checked out.
"If the tire is under-inflated it certainly has the potential to do more rim damage. The tire may be deformed, it can bend belts in the tire if you hit a pothole hard enough," Fountain added.
Plus making sure the suspension and steering are okay can lessen the blow.
MDOT recommends straightening out your wheel and hitting a pothole square on since hitting it at an angle can do more damage to your car.
"We do see tire damage, wheel damage from the big potholes but the majority of it is just the wear and tear from the small bumps in the road," Fountain added.
Depending on the repair Fountain says you could be paying anywhere from $50 dollars for a wheel alignment to well into the thousands to replace a strut.
MDOT is asking drivers who see a big pothole to report it on their website. You can let your public works department know if it's on a local or county road.
