These nasty road cavities can cause punctures, blowouts, uneven tyre wear, tyre bulges, damaged sidewalls, bad wheel alignment and balancing issues. Not to mention cracked rims, damage to your undercarriage, or even accidents that could sadly cost the life of you, your passengers or other road users.
According to recent statistics from the national Department of Transport, South Africa has more than 750,000 km of roads, with more than 80% now older than the 20-year design life. So, it’s no surprise that potholes are part and parcel of our driving lives. They’re caused by a combination of heavy traffic, poor maintenance, and harsh weather conditions, starting as small cracks in the road surface, and becoming bigger over time due to the weight of passing vehicles and exposure to rain, heat, and cold.
While urgent action is being taken by authorities to address our pothole problems, there are still some things that even ordinary South Africans can do to protect themselves.