National Pothole Day brings awareness to troubling infrastructure problem and impacts to South Mississippians

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — Potholes are unavoidable in South Mississippi: they pop up everywhere from construction zones to parking lots.

There’s no jolt quite like hitting a big one, then feeling relieved when your tire pressure light doesn’t instantly pop up. The problem might appear to end there, but that’s rarely the case.

Even small potholes can cause damage to tires. Although the effects might be gradual, they can be just as severe in the long run.

“It can throw off your alignment and your tires will wear [unevenly], and eventually wires start showing,” Performance Tire and Wheel shop manager Douglas Kennedy explained. “That will cause a blowout.”

According to AAA, the average cost of repairs for issues caused by potholes is around $406. Additionally, roughly 1 in 10 U.S. drivers experience significant pothole damage that requires them to seek out a professional repair job.

Kennedy estimates that number to be much higher at Performance Tire and Wheel, with the majority of its customers seeking pothole-related repairs.

“Probably about 50 to 60 percent [are pothole-related], and it can damage your wheels also,” Kennedy said. “We just [did] one a little while ago on a Toyota Highlander.

In situations where potholes are simply unavoidable, AAA says to slow down, release the breaks and straighten the steering wheel before impact. Additionally, Douglas recommends staying up-to-date on routine maintenance to address problems before they worsen.

“I’d probably do [maintenance], probably once every couple of months, at least,” Kennedy said. “Wouldn’t hurt.”