Does Parking On A Curb Damage Your Car?

We know that parking places can be a thing of luxury in urban areas, and if you are not lucky enough to have private parking or a driveway, then every day is a challenge. Parking on a curb is common in busy streets – drivers are forced to do that and take their vehicles up on pavements to avoid blocking the street.

Similarly, some drivers have private parking places that happen to be on curbs – they are forced to park in such a manner, leading to the question of whether or not doing so damages the car’s suspension and tyres as a result of uneven weight distributed to one side. Let’s look at the answers below.

Does Parking on Curbs Damage Your Tyres?

First, let’s look at the effect that curb parking has on your tyres. In reality, the impact of hitting a curb with the sidewall can cause damage to your tyres, while gentle impacts can dent them and cause bulges on one side, making it dangerous to drive on.

Also, hitting a curb with the tyre’s sidewall can cause cuts in its rubber, which can get worse and ruin the tyre completely. So, rubbing the sidewall against a curb is not recommended as it can also erode the rubber away and cause uneven wear.

If you need to mount a curb to park, you should find a dropped curb and go up the pavement or take it gently and at really low speeds. Finally, leaving your car one half on the pavement and the other on the road won’t really do much than cause uneven tyre pressure between two sides. Still, tyres with existing problems (for instance, slow puncture or worn-out tread) will potentially have their issues worsened by having extra pressure placed on them over a longer period of time.

Does Parking on Curbs Damage Your Suspension?

Another aspect of parking on curbs is its effect on the car’s suspension. The truth is that leaving two wheels up and two down can certainly lead to some mechanical issues with the suspension. You can witness uneven suspension issues – especially on older models with worn-out suspension. That is why it’s important to regularly service your vehicle and inspect your suspension system whenever you get a chance.

Additionally, roads with high curbs are more likely to cause issues for your suspension. In general, though, there isn’t a lot to worry about. With enough force, the whole suspension spring can be displaced, causing alignment issues and damage to the rods and shocks.

The general advice from our experts is to avoid mounting curbs altogether. Still, on many public roads, this seems like it is unavoidable.

Will Parking on the Curb Damage Your Car?

The general conclusion is that parking your car on a curb can damage your car. The common damage areas are its tires and its suspension, and the main causes are speed or uneven weight distribution. That is why experts recommend avoiding leaving your car parked on a curb and try finding a better alternative.

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