{"id":194969,"date":"2025-07-18T20:47:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T01:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=194969"},"modified":"2025-07-18T20:48:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T01:48:29","slug":"heat-taking-a-toll-on-ohios-roads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2025\/07\/18\/heat-taking-a-toll-on-ohios-roads\/","title":{"rendered":"Heat taking a toll on Ohio’s roads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VW independent staff\/submitted information<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer\u2019s blazing 90+ degree days aren\u2019t just uncomfortable, they are wreaking havoc on Ohio\u2019s asphalt roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While potholes typically make their grand entrance in spring, scorching heat can contribute to cracking, warping, and weakening pavement all summer long. Additionally, heat can soften asphalt, making it more susceptible to rutting and deformation under pressure. These issues, combined with heavy rain infiltration through cracks, can accelerate the formation of potholes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potholes put drivers at greater risk of a breakdown, the need for a tow and potentially costly repairs. A survey by AAA released in 2022 found Americans spend billions of dollars every year to repair damages caused by potholes, with costs averaging from over $400 to nearly $600 per repair, depending on the extent of damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The break-up of the pavement, particularly in spots already weakened with cracks, plus the weight of passing cars, can create a pothole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Longer an Easy Fix<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a vehicle hits a pothole with any kind of force, the tires, wheels and suspension get the brunt of the impact and fixing any of those items can quickly become pricey, Hitchens says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even a flat tire as a result of a collision with a pothole is not always a quick or easy fix because a growing number of vehicles no longer have a useable spare<\/a>, something many vehicle owners don\u2019t realize until they experience a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany new cars do not come with a spare, so the one thing drivers can do to minimize the need for a tow is to check their vehicle right now <\/em>to determine whether or not they have a spare tire,\u201d said Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager, AAA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In addition to tire troubles, damage caused by potholes may include dented rims, damaged wheels, dislodged wheel weights, displaced struts, dislocated shock absorbers, damaged exhaust systems, misaligned steering systems and ruptured ball joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoiding Potholes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


The best way to prevent pothole damage or tire troubles that might require a tow is avoiding potholes altogether. AAA offers the following tips for avoiding potholes and minimizing their damage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n