That dreaded thud—the moment your tire hits a pothole. For many drivers across New Jersey, it’s a sound they know all too well this time of year.

Many say navigating them has become a daily challenge.

“Like moon craters,” joked Henry Pintado. “You really do have to avoid them.”

“There’s a lot of potholes. There’s a lot of people swerving,” said Shayna Ramos. “It’s really bad on my tires. I feel like my tire pressure is always going down.”

Freezing temperatures, snow and road salt have created deep potholes across the state. Several potholes have opened along King George’s Road in Fords, forcing drivers to stay alert.

Pintado, of Woodbridge, said he has learned where the worst potholes are along his early morning commute.

“I’m watching behind me to make sure there are no cars because I know where that pothole is,” he said. “It’s dark when I wake up at 5 a.m.”

Mechanics at Lou’s Edison Motors say they’ve seen a surge in repairs tied to pothole damage. Owner Lou Taddevo said he has worked on more than 15 vehicles in recent weeks.

“This time of year, coming into spring, we’ll see shocks that are bad, struts that are bad, bent rims, tires,” Taddevo said.

Repair costs can reach hundreds of dollars depending on the damage. Taddevo advises drivers to slow down, stay alert and avoid braking while driving through a pothole.

“You only stiffen up the whole suspension, which makes it worse,” he said. “If the pothole was there yesterday and you went by it, try to keep it in mind.”

Emergency pothole repairs are underway statewide, but the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s full repair campaign typically ramps up in spring once temperatures stay above freezing.

Drivers can report potholes to their local Public Works Department or through the NJDOT pothole hotline.

Some residents want longer‑term fixes.

“I would like them to rip up the whole floor and start over,” said Ramos of Perth Amboy. “I feel like they keep covering the potholes and just putting a Band‑Aid over it.”

For many drivers, the concern now is preventing further damage.

“It’s awful. I just got my car aligned. I don’t want to mess it up again,” Pintado said.

Mechanics recommend checking tires and rims immediately after hitting a pothole.