There are days in a Wonder Lake winter when the roads are slippery. Snow, ice, water: they accumulate on the road a pose a potential hazard for drivers. They can cause you to slide out of control. These uncontrolled moments behind the wheel can be hair raising. Fortunately, they don’t always end with a collision between your car, pickup truck or SUV and someone else’s car, truck or SUV. And they don’t always end with your vehicle striking and damaging someone else’s property. But, even if you think you’ve escaped that harrowing moment without damage, that’s not always the case.

You may slide your pickup truck into a curb and drive away, your heart beating a bit faster, but with no visible damage. But, if your SUV hits a curb, you can’t assume no damage was done.

What can happen when your car, pickup truck or SUV slides into a curb?

• You could damage the tire. The tire has belts inside the rubber that can suffer damage if they’re slammed against a curb. This can result in permanent damage to the tire requiring its replacement.
• You could knock the tire and wheel out of balance. You’ll often feel an unbalanced tire as you drive. And, an unbalanced tire will wear unevenly.
• You could bend or break the rim. Steel rims are more likely to bend. In some cases, they can be beaten back into shape when the shop removes the tire to work on them. Aluminum rims, which are far more prevalent these days, can bend or they can break. In either case, it is more difficult to repair a damaged aluminum rim.
• You could damage part of the steering or suspension. The other factors can cause a hazardous condition for your car. A damaged steering or suspension is more likely to put you at risk.

Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily a ‘pick-one situation.’ You could damage the tire, break a rim and damage the steering and suspension. Much depends on how you hit the curb and how fast you’re moving when you hit it.

To avoid hitting a curb, watch your speed on slippery streets. Be careful not to overdrive for conditions.

It also helps to ensure that your steering, suspension, tires, wheels and balance are in proper condition. You should have good tread on the tires. A good all-season tire is a must in Wonder Lake in the winter.