Keeping their family safe on the road is every parent’s top priority. While we focus so much of our attention on seat belts, car seats, and defensive driving, we often overlook a critical safety component: our tires.
Understanding the common road hazards that can affect your vehicle’s tires can help you protect your family and avoid unexpected problems on the road. Here are four hazards every Pennsylvania parent should watch for on their daily drives.
Potholes
Pennsylvania winters are tough on roads, creating potholes that seem to multiply overnight. These road craters aren’t just annoying—they’re tire killers that can cause immediate damage or weaken your tire’s structure over time.
You should always inspect your tires for damage after hitting a pothole, as it can cause sidewall bulges, punctures, or internal damage that may lead to sudden tire failure. The damage might not be visible right away, making it especially dangerous for families who depend on their vehicle daily.
Construction Debris
Ongoing road construction projects create hazardous conditions for your tires. The zones often contain loose nails, screws, metal fragments, and sharp stones that can puncture even the strongest tires.
These small pieces of debris are particularly dangerous because they can embed in your tire and cause a slow leak that goes unnoticed until you’re stranded with a flat tire and kids in the car.
Prevention tip: Maintain extra distance from construction vehicles, and avoid driving behind trucks carrying materials. Check your tires regularly for embedded objects.
Curb Strikes
Busy parents usually have to drive through tight parking lots for school, shopping, and family events, but curbs can be killer on your tires. Accidentally hitting a curb while parking or maneuvering can cause significant tire damage, including sidewall cuts, belt separation, and wheel alignment issues.
Curb damage is common with low-profile tires, which are found on many modern family vehicles. Even minor scrapes can hide deeper damage that compromises the tire’s integrity and creates a safety risk for your family.
Sharp Objects and Metal Fragments
Roads can often collect various debris, from broken glass to metal fragments that can damage your tires. These objects can cause immediate punctures or embed in the tire tread, creating slow leaks.
Metal fragments are particularly dangerous since they can embed deeper into tires over time, potentially reaching the inner liner and causing a sudden loss of air while driving. If this happens, it is important to stay calm and safely pull over to the side of the road. This will keep you and your children safe.
Prevention tip: Avoid driving over obvious debris when safe to do so. If you must drive through debris, inspect your tires afterward for any embedded objects.
Protecting Your Family on the Road
Avoiding road hazards that can harm your tires isn’t just for convenience—it’s about protecting your most precious cargo. Consider joining a roadside assistance program to make it easier to get help if you have a tire issue while on the road. Also, keep emergency supplies in your car so that you can keep your family safe on Pennsylvania’s challenging roads.
