When the beauty of spring begins to blossom, roads often become ugly.
That's because early spring's freeze-thaw cycle wreaks havoc on road surfaces as conditions warm, opening up potholes that threaten even the toughest vehicles. Drivers celebrating the departure of icy conditions often find their safety just as threatened by the obstacle course that characterizes their daily commutes.
How can drivers avoid the damage inflicted by potholes and rough roads this time of year? Nokian Tyres, a tiremaker that offers a Pothole Protection program with many of its tires, offers a few tips. It's part of a campaign the company is hosting that invites drivers to vote for the Worst Roads in North America.
Embrace Pothole Protection
The first step to overcoming bad roads? Keeping a close eye on the only part of a vehicle that touches the road.
Some tires come with materials that help them resist punctures and blowouts. For instance, all of Nokian Tyres' all-season tires are infused with Aramid fibers - the same material used in bulletproof vests.
The lightweight fiber strengthens tires' sidewalls to help them stay strong when they encounter bumps in the road. And Nokian Tyres even offers a Pothole Protection warranty with its Aramid-infused products. If a tire suffers damage beyond repair from a pothole or road hazard, the company replaces it for free (within terms and conditions).
Other tiremakers are also experimenting with compounds and materials that help tires withstand rough roads. Drivers who live in pothole-prone areas should ask their tire dealers about tires that are designed to keep them safe.
Swap to the Right Tires
Not all types of tires are created equal. Drivers should make sure they're riding on a set engineered for the time of year in which they're driving.
Winter tires, which remain soft and responsive on frigid weather, aren't equipped to hold up consistently when temperatures warm. Their soft compounds are vulnerable to heat, and they tend to wear prematurely and unevenly in the spring and summer months, in addition to being more prone to damage. So, it's important for winter tire consumers to swap to all-season tires once conditions rise above 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).
Keep Tires in Working Order
Once the right tires are on the car, drivers need to make sure they're set up for safety.
That means inflating them to the recommended level, which drivers can find on the door jamb or in the owner's manual. Tires that are underinflated are more likely to rupture when they encounter road hazards. They're also less energy efficient.
Drivers should also inspect their tires monthly to ensure there is no visible damage or tread wear. And it's valuable to schedule an annual appointment with a local tire dealer, who can examine every aspect of the tires to ensure they're in good working order and don't need to be replaced.
Potholes can derail journeys and push tires to their breaking point. For more tips on avoiding damage from rough roads, drivers are invited to visit NokianTyres.com/Potholes. Between March 17 and 28, they can enter to win free tires with Pothole Protection by saying why they have the worst roads in North America.