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Some Tri-State cities are struggling against potholes. It turns out your vehicle ends up being the victim if you're not careful.

We talked with Tom Moore with Delta Tire and Custom Wheels in Quincy.

He says a chance encounter with potholes can weaken or break your tire's sidewalls and that's not all.

The impact of a pothole can crack or bend your aluminum wheel... which can cause your tires to wear irregularly short term.

Long term effects of that could be even more costly.

Moore said, "What I think we see the most of is premature wear. With that we have suspension components that could prematurely wear and cause failure. That could add up to a hundred dollars to even a thousand dollars in damages if you're not cautious."

Moore says the best thing is to avoid a pothole. But if you do happen to hit one, it's important to have your car checked out by licensed professionals. 

Other tips from State Farm Insurance:

Try to limit your travel to roads you know very well. That knowledge could keep you from hitting a pothole and seriously damaging your car.

When driving at night, try to drive on well-lit roads so you can see the road surface. Once again, it's probably a good idea to limit your travel to roads you know very well.

Slow down. Give yourself a chance to see the pothole and avoid it.

If you hit a pothole, carefully inspect your tires and wheels for possible damage.

Note how your car handles in the aftermath. If it "pulls" or you feel a wobble in the steering, you may need to have your car checked out by a mechanic.

If you must hit a pothole, do your braking before impact. There's less damage when a tire is rolling than when it is skidding over a hole during braking.