Watch out! Potholes can do serious damage to these 5 car parts...

If you are planning a vacation anytime soon to other parts of the world and will be driving there, then amongst all sorts of other dangers on the roads, you have to watch out for potholes.

Potholes form when water gets into cracks in the road and then with the changes in temperature the water expands and these cracks get larger. Over time, they get big enough to cause serious damage to your vehicle if you happen to drive over them at speed.

Tyres: Tyres are the only part of your vehicle that have any contact with the road and so it is not a surprise that they are extremely susceptible to pothole damage.

Problems such as sidewall bulges, tread separation, or flats are common issues and they need to be replaced right away.

Wheels: It is awful when you curb a wheel but the damage potholes can do is far worse than just skin-deep. Hard angles in potholes apply impact force to wheels in ways they were not designed to handle, leading to bends, chips, or cracks.

A bent wheel will not roll smoothly and may not be able to form an airtight seal with a tyre either and although these can sometimes be repaired, chipped or cracked wheels can fail catastrophically and must be replaced.

Suspension: There is a limit to how much a car’s suspension - designed to absorb impacts and provide a smooth ride - can handle and unexpected hits against potholes can cause all sorts of issues. These can include broken bushes, ball joints, and damaged shocks or struts.

You will likely notice vibration coming through your steering wheel, and if the vehicle is pulling in one direction it means you may have an alignment issue too. There will also be unusual sounds and overall a poor ride quality. Since the suspension and chassis can be quite an intricate component, an experienced mechanic will need to inspect the entire system.

Exhaust: Running along the undercarriage of a vehicle, the exhaust system is a perfect target for potholes and several of its components such as the muffler or catalytic converter can be easily damaged.

A crack in the exhaust will be immediately detectable because it will drastically alter the sound of your vehicle not to mention spew out harmful pollution and those harmful fumes can enter the cabin and pose a serious health hazard…

Body: The lower a car is to the ground, the better it will handle - generally speaking. But, these cars are more likely to be damaged by potholes...

Areas such as low-hanging bumpers and side skirts are prone to serious damage…