Driving is always inherently risky, but every driver has their preference on where they like to drive the most. For some, it's the open highway. The freedom, the speed, and the absence of traffic lights make this way to travel a dream for some. For others, it's the local road. Access to everything, lower speeds, and plenty of time to take a breath when sitting at a red light. When you get down to it, though, curbs are everywhere and we've all bumped them. Whether we were turning a corner or didn't realize we had pulled up too far, curbs have bumped us all.
The impact can be pretty jarring and often leaves us wondering if our tires were popped or if the wheel was left bent. If this has happened to you recently, you're not alone. Toyota of Clermont is here to help you figure out if you damaged your car wheel and what to do about it. Find out more here!
Bumped a Curb? Time to Check for Car Wheel Damage
How Bad Was the Bump?
Obviously, there's a big difference between kissing a bumper and getting into a full-on fender bender with your Clermont Toyota car. So, naturally, there are varying degrees at which you can bump a car and possibly damage your car wheel. Driving 20 mph and above and scraping or bumping into a curb could cause significant damage cosmetically and mechanically. Bumping into a curb going less than 10 mph while turning will likely land you with little to no damage. After the impact occurs, inspect your vehicle and pay attention to how it drives for the next few miles.
Check for the Right Signs
When inspecting your Clermont car wheel after bumping a curb, you need to know what to look for to properly diagnose issues. After impacting a curb, it's important to inspect your vehicle in a timely manner. If you keep driving, you could be making things worse. While inspecting the tire(s), it's most often the passenger side front car wheel, look for damage to the tread and sidewall. This includes scraping and missing pieces. While you might not see obvious signs of damage, it might have damaged your alignment.
Pay Attention to Misalignment Signs
If your car wheel hit a curb and there weren't any obvious signs of damage, that doesn't mean you're out of the woods just yet. The easiest way to test for a misaligned wheels is to drive your vehicle on an empty Clermont road or parking lot and take your hand off the wheel for a brief few moments. If your vehicle can't follow a straight path without diverting left or right then your tire is likely out of alignment. There could also be a more obvious tugging to the side that was impacted or you might feel vibrations in the steering wheel or on the side of the car where your wheel was impacted. These vibrations could also be caused by a bent wheel, but these often happen after extreme bumps and you'd likely know if this has happened to you.
If you've damaged your car wheel against a curb in Clermont, you're not alone! Visit Toyota of Clermont for help with this auto service issue today at 16851 State Road 50.