How Large Must Hailstones Be to Damage a Car?
4 Answers
Hailstones the size of a one-yuan coin, some as large as an egg, or even as big as a tennis ball can. Hailstones falling from high altitudes possess significant kinetic energy and can be quite destructive, capable of damaging cars by causing body and windshield injuries, though the extent of damage depends on the size of the hailstones. Smaller Hailstones: For smaller hailstones, those not exceeding two centimeters in diameter, the impact is generally minimal. Cars have a certain level of resistance to such impacts, and in most cases, they will remain unharmed, with no damage inflicted on the vehicle. Larger Hailstones: However, larger hailstones, such as those the size of a one-yuan coin, some as large as an egg, or even as big as a tennis ball, are much heavier and can indeed damage cars. These hailstones can not only scratch the car's paint but also cause glass shattering and body dents.
Last time, hailstones the size of corn kernels were bad enough—about 1.5 cm in diameter—leaving tiny white dots all over the hood. The mechanic used a paint thickness gauge and found the clear coat had cracked. Then came hailstones the size of dates, over 3 cm in diameter, which were even scarier—my neighbor’s SUV sunroof shattered on the spot. The most extreme was last year’s golf-ball-sized hailstorm in the news, where car roofs were dented into wavy shapes, and not a single piece of glass survived. My advice: park in an underground garage if there’s a hail warning, or at least cover the car with a thick car cover for some cushioning.
With twenty years of experience in car repairs, hailstones the size of a fingernail usually leave only shallow scratches, but those the size of a coin can definitely cause dents. Last week, a new car was hit by 2-centimeter hailstones, leaving seven or eight dents on the aluminum hood. Sheet metal repair requires removing the interior headliner, and a single repair starts at 5,000 yuan. A reminder to everyone: hail damage is covered by insurance, but remember to take photos and report the claim within 24 hours; otherwise, the marks may fade after the rain, leading to disputes. Pay extra attention if your car is over five years old—older paint is brittle, and hail impacts can easily cause the paint to crack or peel.
Meteorological data is quite interesting: 1cm hailstones hit the ground at the same speed as small pebbles, but 5cm hailstones have an impact force comparable to a baseball hitting a car. I've personally seen 3cm hailstones pierce through side mirror casings—plastic parts are more fragile than metal. It's worth noting that sunroofs are particularly vulnerable to hail; tempered glass can crack when struck by hailstones over 2cm in diameter. For frequent long-distance drivers, keeping a foldable car cover handy is practical—it can provide emergency protection when encountering hail at service areas.
