Pot Holes Prevention

[YodaBird]

I want to know what I can do to reduce the damage pot holes can cause to a car ?

Better suspensions ?
Larger Tires
Better Shocks ?

Or a combined two ?

[atxsteve1]

Funny lol...:burnrubber:

[Absolutely Red 12]

I want to know what I can do to reduce the damage pot holes can cause to a car ?

Better suspensions ?
Larger Tires
Better Shocks ?

Or a combined two ?

Drive around them??:rolleyes:

[why?]

That is nice to say, but not always possible in the real world. People usually expect you to go near the speed limit of roads, and in any type of traffic you might be able to see 10 feet in front of you. Even at only 40 mph, you won't get much time to react.

If your car is stock though, don't worry. Well worry about those wheels, because they bend easily.

The easiest way to help is get tires with lots of sidewall, and wheels that can handle a pounding. The rest of the car should be fine, unless the potholes are the size of the wheel, and with those you should just come to a total stop in the middle of the road and go around.

[YodaBird]

Any recommendations for tire with best side wall ?
What about shocks, wouldn't they help with pot holes, or only tires ?

[nookandcrannycar]

That is nice to say, but not always possible in the real world. People usually expect you to go near the speed limit of roads, and in any type of traffic you might be able to see 10 feet in front of you. Even at only 40 mph, you won't get much time to react.

If your car is stock though, don't worry. Well worry about those wheels, because they bend easily.

The easiest way to help is get tires with lots of sidewall, and wheels that can handle a pounding. The rest of the car should be fine, unless the potholes are the size of the wheel, and with those you should just come to a total stop in the middle of the road and go around.

In my experience, roads (in general) are in a lot better condition in CA than they are in MA. Let's say (just to aid in my point) that you and AR 12 have exactly the same level of driving skill. I think AR 12 would have a better chance of avoiding potholes on the roads of CA than you would avoiding potholes on the roads of MA....but admittedly, I haven't driven out on your peninsula.

[bronsin]

I know of nothing you can do to the car to reduce the effect of hitting potholes.

If your commute is potholy perhaps you can go another way?

Me Ive gone the same way to work for 34 years. So I know where the potholes are and position the car to miss them.

Same with driving around town.

[nookandcrannycar]

I know of nothing you can do to the car to reduce the effect of hitting potholes.

If your commute is potholy perhaps you can go another way?

Me Ive gone the same way to work for 34 years. So I know where the potholes are and position the car to miss them.

Same with driving around town.

LOL. Sounds as if you could almost drive to work with your eyes closed! :biggrin:

[YodaBird]

I said what can I do to the car that can reduce pot hole damage, not how I can avoid pot holes:mad:

[jpmck03]

I said what can I do to the car that can reduce pot hole damage, not how I can avoid pot holes:mad:

People answered your question:

I know of nothing you can do to the car to reduce the effect of hitting potholes...

...If your car is stock though, don't worry. Well worry about those wheels, because they bend easily.

The easiest way to help is get tires with lots of sidewall, and wheels that can handle a pounding. The rest of the car should be fine, unless the potholes are the size of the wheel, and with those you should just come to a total stop in the middle of the road and go around.

...and technically, avoiding them is something you can do to the car to reduce pot hole... :wink:

[screenprintr]

The only way we can avoid this is to work from home, lol.

[jayeh]

I know of nothing you can do to the car to reduce the effect of hitting potholes.

If your commute is potholy perhaps you can go another way?

Me Ive gone the same way to work for 34 years. So I know where the potholes are and position the car to miss them.

Same with driving around town.

You haven't been to Ontario. I hit a pot hole so deep my car bottomed out. The worst part was I was already absolutely crawling.

It gets even worse at night and when they are filled with water and you can't judge the depth of them.

I'm pretty sure I've swerved so hard I've only had 3 wheels on the ground more than a couple of times to avoid some massive potholes.

[YodaBird]

You haven't been to Ontario. I hit a pot hole so deep my car bottomed out. The worst part was I was already absolutely crawling.

It gets even worse at night and when they are filled with water and you can't judge the depth of them.

I'm pretty sure I've swerved so hard I've only had 3 wheels on the ground more than a couple of times to avoid some massive potholes.

Thank you :) What can be done about it, to reduce the damage, once again I ask :mad:

[jayeh]

Thank you :) What can be done about it, to reduce the damage, once again I ask :mad:

Nothing afaik.

I've got snow tires on OEM steel wheels, instead of lug centric shitty multifit steel wheels. That will reduce the risk of things going wrong in that department.

Short of finding some kind of light truck tire that would fit a yaris I'm not sure there is anything that can be done mechanically.

The best thing to do is avoid the bad roads. I take a longer/slower route downtown since the most direct route is too damn rough.

[yarisugi]

Sell your Yaris, get an SUV.
Still can't beat the potholes in Florida.
Oh wait, those aren't potholes.

[bronsin]

Thank you :) What can be done about it, to reduce the damage, once again I ask :mad:

Stubborn isnt he? :bonk:

[jpmck03]

Stubborn isnt he? :bonk:
I know, right?
How many people have to say, "There's not much you can do, other than avoid them" in slightly different ways does it take?
Nothing afaik. ... I'm not sure there is anything that can be done mechanically.

The best thing to do is avoid the bad roads. I take a longer/slower route downtown since the most direct route is too damn rough.

I know of nothing you can do to the car to reduce the effect of hitting potholes.

If your commute is potholy perhaps you can go another way? ...

... If your car is stock though, don't worry. Well worry about those wheels, because they bend easily.

The easiest way to help is get tires with lots of sidewall, and wheels that can handle a pounding. ...
Let me add my $0.02:
There's not much you can do about your suspension, tires, wheel, etc. to help you not damage your suspension from doing what it's supposed to do anyways. But, you can try to avoid potholes. :thumbsup:

[why?]

In my experience, roads (in general) are in a lot better condition in CA than they are in MA. Let's say (just to aid in my point) that you and AR 12 have exactly the same level of driving skill. I think AR 12 would have a better chance of avoiding potholes on the roads of CA than you would avoiding potholes on the roads of MA....but admittedly, I haven't driven out on your peninsula.

The roads are bad. Of course in winter every time it freezes new bumps and holes develop as well.

But seriously, sidewall. You put 60+ inches of sidewall and that should be enough cushioning to reduce impact a quite a bit. And good wheels. I have 14" forged wheels. In the 4 years I have owned them they have taken a pounding that would have destroyed more than a few stock wheels, and they are still perfect. I did destroy two stock wheels in the 2 years I drove the car before that as well.

As for other damage? You can't do anything but slow down and try and avoid them. I've hit my frame on the road because of a pothole before, can't really do anything except know the car should be able to take it.

There is no magic road flattener.

[nookandcrannycar]

The roads are bad. Of course in winter every time it freezes new bumps and holes develop as well.

But seriously, sidewall. You put 60+ inches of sidewall and that should be enough cushioning to reduce impact a quite a bit. And good wheels. I have 14" forged wheels. In the 4 years I have owned them they have taken a pounding that would have destroyed more than a few stock wheels, and they are still perfect. I did destroy two stock wheels in the 2 years I drove the car before that as well.

As for other damage? You can't do anything but slow down and try and avoid them. I've hit my frame on the road because of a pothole before, can't really do anything except know the car should be able to take it.

There is no magic road flattener.

Wow. I've encountered some bad roads in MA, but I'm glad I've managed to avoid the ones that triggered your description.

[nookandcrannycar]

You haven't been to Ontario. I hit a pot hole so deep my car bottomed out. The worst part was I was already absolutely crawling.

It gets even worse at night and when they are filled with water and you can't judge the depth of them.

I'm pretty sure I've swerved so hard I've only had 3 wheels on the ground more than a couple of times to avoid some massive potholes.

Are the public roads (overall) in Ontario worse than the roads in Saskatchewan? In Ontario I've driven from the Manitoba border on 17, through Thunder Bay, Marathon, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, to the 417, and through Ottawa to the Quebec border. I've also driven the 401 from the Quebec border to Windsor, and the QEW from Toronto to Niagara Falls. I've driven some surface streets in the Toronto Metro, the Windsor Metro, in Niagara Falls, in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, and in Sault Ste. Marie (this was mostly in 2006 and a bit in 2007, but also on another trip more than a decade earlier). Obviously, I didn't even 'stratch the surface' when it comes to roads driven on, but I found the roads in Quebec and especially in Saskatchewan to be worse than in Ontario. I was driving on the 16 from Edmonton to Saskatoon, and as soon as I hit the Alberta/Saskatchewan border, I was amazed by the negative change in the condition of the road. The road from Regina to the Manitoba border was a little better, but the surface streets in Regina were in terrible condition. The worst roads I encountered in Canada were in Newfoundland, but they weren't public roads -- they were private roads that belonged to various campgrounds.

[tooter]

I said what can I do to the car that can reduce pot hole damage, not how I can avoid pot holes:mad:

I live in a rural area with some pretty rough dirt roads so I run 15x7 wheels with relatively tall 195/60 series tires, a rear sway bar with strut/shock tower braces front and rear, and the stock suspension height for good ground clearance. :thumbsup:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/compost_bin/car/IMG_6001.jpg

[jcboy]

i guess in regard to the OP's question, the answer is: get the smallest wheels you can, with tires having the thickest side walls possible, and put lifters if you will.

..but d@mn that's fugly.

[atxsteve1]

You should get some super swampers and cut your fender wells out with a sawzall

[narly charley]

You should get some super swampers and cut your fender wells out with a sawzall

If you do this, you'll feel like you're driving on pillows... I love it! Haha!

Fill the swampers with 22 lbs of air and you're good to go. :thumbsup:

[YodaBird]

i guess in regard to the OP's question, the answer is: get the smallest wheels you can, with tires having the thickest side walls possible, and put lifters if you will.

..but d@mn that's fugly.

What tires do you recommend with thick side walls ?

[why?]

anything with 60+ sidewall ratio.