Back in 1967, John Lennon read the news, oh boy, and learned about 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. “And though the holes were rather small,” he sang, “they had to count them all.”

Today, you might look around on the West Side Highway, the Cross-Bronx Expressway or the Long Island Expressway and think that the folks in Blackburn didn’t have it so bad. Only 4,000 holes? According to Keith Kalb of the New York City Department of Transportation, road crews fill about 100,000 holes in the five counties in an average year.

“Weather is probably the biggest factor,” says Kalb. “For example, 1999 was a really bad winter, but 2000 and 2001 were relatively mild, so there weren’t as many potholes.”

Even in the mildest winters, though, New York never stays completely pothole-free. The constant freeze-thaw cycle buckles pavement and eventually creates holes that, in turn, pop hubcaps off, bend rims, crack shock absorbers, whack wheels out of line and bend or break tie rods, control arms and other components. Since you can’t escape potholes entirely, you have to learn to live with them. Here’s how:

• Prep at the pump. The right amount of air pressure in your tires can make all the difference in the world when you hit a hole. With an underinflated tire, you run the risk of bending a wheel or damaging a steering or suspension component. With an overinflated tire, you can damage the tire itself.

That’s why experts suggest checking your tires’ inflation pressure every two weeks (better yet, at every fill-up) during spring. The wide variations in temperature—balmy days interspersed with sub-freezing cold snaps—not only make spring prime season for pothole formation but also play havoc with your tire pressure. Keep your tires at the inflation pressure specified for your vehicle, as indicated either in the owner’s manual or on the tire inflation placard—not on the tires’ sidewalls. You’ll find the inflation placard on the inside edge of the driver’s door, on the doorjamb on the driver’s side, inside the glove compartment door or maybe even inside the door over the fuel filler port.

• Watch for red. Naturally, the best way to hit a pothole is not at all. Avoidance begins with your eyes. Scan the road at least 15 to 20 seconds ahead, anticipate problems and steer smoothly around them. Even if you can’t see the holes themselves, you’ll probably spot the brake lights of other vehicles slowing down as they approach the holes, which may be all the warning you need. Swerving around a pothole can lead to an impact with something worse—another car, for example.
• Roll through the hole. If you have to hit a hole, don’t hit the brake. Let up on the accelerator to slow down as you approach the pothole, touching the brake pedal lightly to signal vehicles behind you. Stay off the brake on impact, however; let the wheel roll through the hole.

Skydivers learn to bend their knees, relax and roll to soften the impact upon landing. Stiff limbs and tight muscles lead to broken bones and other injuries when people jump out of airplanes. The same goes for tires when they hit a pothole. Braking locks the wheel or “stiffens” it, increasing the chance for more severe damage from a solid hit.

• Inspect the tires. If all your preparation and prevention fail, however, and your tires suffer a severe jolt, you’ll want to have them inspected by a trained technician as soon as it’s convenient.

“Pothole damage isn’t a sleeping problem. It’s something you notice eventually, if not right away,” says Dan Zielinski, vice-president of communications at the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the trade group representing tire makers. “It most commonly shows up as a vibration in the steering wheel, pulling to one side, loss of tire pressure or rapid, uneven tread wear.”

According to Zielinski, the type of inspection required depends on the symptoms. For example, the vehicle pulling to one side or the tire tread wearing unevenly usually indicates an alignment problem. On the other hand, loss of air pressure may indicate a punctured tire or bent rim, which necessitates the technician removing the tire from the wheel for an inspection.

“A particularly hard hit could bend the rim, which means the tire doesn’t seat properly on the wheel,” he says. “That could result in gradual loss of pressure.”

• Report the hole. Finally, save yourself—and others—from hitting the same pothole again and again. In New York City, you can report potholes to the Department of Transportation, either by phone at 212 or 718/CALLDOT (225-5368) or online at www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dot.