Is a small chip in the windshield caused by a stone a serious issue?

[DelKinsley]

Is a small chip in the windshield caused by a stone a serious issue? A small chip in the windshield caused by a stone is not a serious issue. Here is some relevant information: Function of tempered glass: Tempered glass is made by quenching ordinary glass to create internal stresses, thereby strengthening the glass. When impacted and shattered, the glass breaks into small, blunt-edged fragments, reducing the risk of injury to passengers. Function of zone-tempered glass: Zone-tempered glass is a new type of tempered glass that undergoes special treatment. When impacted and cracked, it maintains a certain level of clarity in the cracks, ensuring the driver's field of vision remains unaffected. Currently, most car windshields are made of laminated tempered glass or laminated zone-tempered glass, which can withstand strong impacts.

[VanAllison]

When my car's windshield got a small chip from a rock, I initially thought it was nothing and kept driving for a few days. But later, I noticed it gradually grew larger. The reason is that there might be micro-cracks inside the chip, and factors like water pressure during car washes or temperature changes caused the cracks to slowly expand. The location is crucial—if the chip is directly in the driver's line of sight, not addressing it promptly could affect safe driving. Even chips on the sides can spread into cracks. Once during winter, a sudden cold snap turned the chip into a long crack, which startled me. The repair method is simple: find a professional glass shop to inject resin and fill the hole, costing less than 200 yuan with good results. My advice is not to overlook such small issues—safe driving is no trivial matter, and fixing it early brings peace of mind.

[LeLondyn]

My experience is that small chips should be addressed early, otherwise they may worsen. Small pits on the windshield can be categorized as star-shaped or bullseye chips, and those smaller than a dime in diameter can be repaired. Last time I went to the shop, the technician used a drill to clean around the chip, injected a special resin, and cured it with a UV light for about a minute—it became completely transparent. The cost was around 250 yuan, and the job was done in half an hour. If left unrepaired, acidic substances in rainwater can corrode the glass, or thermal shocks from cold weather can quickly turn the chip into a crack. At that point, replacing the entire windshield becomes much more expensive: 500-1000 yuan for economy cars and several thousand for luxury brands. Additionally, it’s wise to regularly inspect the windshield as a preventive measure, especially after highway driving—just run your hand over it. A small investment now can save you big trouble later.

[DiParker]

A small chip appeared on my car's windshield after being hit by a stone, but I didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it wouldn't affect driving. Two weeks later, white lines started spreading around the chip. Then one winter morning when I started driving, with a large temperature difference, there was a loud crack and a 10 cm crack appeared. I regretted it so much—replacing the new windshield cost me 1800 yuan. The lesson is: no matter how small a stone chip is, it must be checked immediately, as the risk of it turning into a crack is high. Repairing it is cheap and quick, costing less than 300 yuan. Driving safety comes first—don’t delay, take action as soon as you see a chip.