How Large of Hail Can a Car Withstand?
2 Answers
Hail possesses considerable weight and falls from the sky with significant kinetic energy, which can cause damage to a car's windshield and paint surface. Here are the relevant details: 1. Smaller-sized hail: Hail no larger than two centimeters, about the size of soybeans, generally has minimal impact and won't harm the car. Vehicles have a certain level of impact resistance, and in most cases, they will remain unharmed unless the car's body or glass is of poor quality. 2. Larger-sized hail: Hail the size of coins, some as large as eggs, or even tennis balls, carries substantial weight. Falling from a height, such hail can severely damage the car, leading to shattered glass, dents, and other body damage.
That day I encountered a hailstorm, the windshield was cracked, and the car body was covered in dents. Hailstones vary in size—golf ball-sized ones can shatter glass, while smaller ones may only leave dents. The roof and hood are the most vulnerable, as thinner steel areas are prone to deformation. That hailstorm had baseball-sized stones, resulting in over ten thousand dollars in repairs, which the insurance company later covered. When parking, try to find a garage or carport. If driving in the wild and hearing a hail warning, quickly take shelter in a service area. Hail comes too fast to predict, and only experience tells you how much a car can withstand: normal vehicles can at most endure pea-sized hail, but anything larger than a tennis ball is absolutely dangerous. It's recommended to regularly inspect the car's body protection.
