How Rolled Curbs Impact Your Tires
Many modern cars have complex suspension systems and low-profile tires. Great for handling but not so great if you hit a bump, pothole, or rolled curb. Sometimes, you may get away with it, but it’s all too easy to damage your tires, steering components, or bodywork.
Lower Tire Pressures
Repeated impacts with curbs – even at slow speeds – can reduce tire pressure. You may not notice it at first, but driving with underinflated tires is never a good idea. Some Tire Pressure Monitors (TPM) don’t alert you until the tire is several psi below optimum. So you may not know it is happening until the damage has been done. Lower tire pressures can result in:
- Poor handling – more flex in the sidewalls reduces straight-line stability and cornering feel
- Increased tire wear – more friction means more heat and higher tire wear
- Reduced fuel economy – increased rolling resistance will result in higher fuel consumption
Stressed Sidewalls
Older cars and vehicles with large off-road tires tend to have softer sidewalls that can absorb bumps more easily. But many modern cars tend to have large-diameter wheels shod with tires that have thin sidewalls. In addition to having thin sidewalls, the sidewalls are rigid to reduce rolling resistance and improve handling. And, they make the sidewalls as lightweight as possible for good fuel economy.
The result is that modern tires with thin sidewalls do not absorb continuous impact from road hazards or rolled curbs, as well as older tires. Repeated impacts can cause stress to the tire, resulting in permanent damage.
Damaged Tires And Rims
Potholes, roadworks, and road debris can all cause serious damage to your tires and rims. The curb down your driveway is just as bad, and that’s one obstacle you can’t avoid.
Bumping into it over and over will eventually damage your tire and rim. If your car has a lowered suspension, you may also end up scraping your bumper. Performance cars with run-flat tires tend to send all the force of a bump to the rims, suspension, and chassis.
Damaged Steering Components And Alignment Issues
You may get lucky and not cause visible damage to your tires, rims, or bumper. But the unseen damage to your suspension components can be much worse.
Worn bushings, shock absorbers, or linkages will all be expensive to fix. And you may not notice until further damage has been done. Symptoms of suspension damage can include:
- Poor tire wear – the result of alignment being knocked out
- Vehicle pulling to the side – one side of the suspension system is damaged
- Loose handling – damaged suspension
- Play in the steering wheel – bent suspension parts and poor alignment
- Uncomfortable ride – damage to the shock absorber
BRIDJIT Curb Ramps Are The Answer To Your Problems
The solution to avoiding curb-related damage isn’t to park in the street outside your house. It’s to get a set of Bridjit curb ramps. Our curb ramps are made from recycled rubber, are available in portable and expandable versions, and couldn’t be easier to install.
Our ramps are durable and strong – made from the same material as tires plus a binding agent. They can easily take a car’s weight and are difficult to steal thanks to their solid, heavy design. Check them out here:
We have 15 years of experience manufacturing curb ramps, and they are 100% made in the USA. We stand by our products with a 5-year warranty. So give us a call at 1-877-522-6611 or contact us online and protect your car from curb damage for good.
