We’ve survived another Minnesota winter -- the ice, the snow, the frozen temps and wind chills. But, how did our roads hold up? The combination of heavy vehicle loads, cracks in the asphalt, and thawing and freezing cycles have all contributed to the formation of potholes.

Those pesky craters that pop up (and down) this time of the year can be more than irritating; not only do they contribute to accidents, they also wreak havoc on your car’s wheels and suspension. In fact, a new study by AAA reveals that pothole damage has cost U.S. drivers $15 billion in vehicle repairs over the last five years.

Over the same course of time, 16 million drivers across the country have reported pothole damage to their vehicles. Ranging from tire punctures and bent wheels to more expensive suspension damage, the repairs have averaged $300.

Tips to Avoid Hitting Potholes:

AAA experts recommend the following driving tips to avoid hitting potholes:

• Maintain proper air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and tire rim.  

• Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Before swerving around a pothole, be sure to check surrounding traffic and lanes to determine if it’s safe to move over.

• Maintain a safe speed for weather conditions. If a pothole can’t be avoided, slow down, if possible. Hitting a pothole at high-speed increases the chance of tire damage as well as harm to wheels, shocks, struts, steering or suspension.

• When driving over more than one pothole, reduce vehicle speed and hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.

• If possible, don’t brake directly over a pothole. Applying brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the vehicle and can increase damage from the impact.

Hitting even one pothole can throw your vehicle’s alignment or steering out of whack, leading to more expensive repairs and costs down the road. Should you suspect any damage from a bumpy pothole season ride, have a professional mechanic check out your car.

Image by Michael Gil via flickr, licensed under CC by 2.0