Will Running Over a Parking Block Damage the Car?
4 Answers
If a car wheel runs over a parking block at a very slow speed, it generally won't damage the tire. However, if the speed is relatively fast, it may cause damage to the tire surface. After unlocking with a modifier, when selecting a purchased car to enter the garage, the F4 function of the modifier must be enabled; otherwise, the car will be hidden, leading to such a situation. Below is relevant information about parking spaces: 1. Standard parking space dimensions: Straight parking spaces should be 2.5 meters wide and at least 5 meters long; angled parking spaces should be 2.8 meters wide, with a diagonal length of 6 meters, while maintaining a vertical distance of 2.5 meters between the two angled lines. 2. Parking space design standards: Parking space design standards are divided into four levels. For vehicles with a length not exceeding 6 meters and a width not exceeding 1.8 meters, the minimum spacing between vehicles should be no less than 0.5 meters, and the spacing between the vehicle and walls or the ends of parking spaces should also be no less than 0.5 meters. For vehicles longer than 6 meters but not exceeding 8 meters, and wider than 1.8 meters but not exceeding 2.2 meters, the spacing between vehicles should be no less than 0.7 meters. The corresponding standard for turning areas is to meet the requirement for a vehicle to make a one-time turnaround.
As someone who frequently parks in both residential and office parking lots, I think running over parking stops can indeed damage the car. Once, I was in a hurry and parked too aggressively—my front wheel rolled right over the rubber ramp of the stop, and I heard a loud crunch. When I got out to check, the wheel rim edge was visibly scratched, and there were several marks on the tire sidewall. Later, a friend at the repair shop told me that such scratches can easily cause uneven wear on the tire sidewall. Now, I make it a habit to reverse a couple of times to adjust my position, ensuring the wheels just touch the edge of the stop before stopping. This is especially important for low-clearance cars, as running over the stop might scrape the front bumper or underbody protection. Although parking stops are designed to prevent cars from hitting walls, pressing too hard on them is really not friendly to tires and the undercarriage.
I've seen quite a few problems caused by running over parking blocks while working at the repair shop. The most common issue is tire sidewalls getting sliced by the sharp edges of parking blocks, which requires new tire replacement. There was an SUV that damaged its fog lamp bracket from the impact of quickly running over a metal parking block. The material of parking blocks matters a lot - rubber ones are slightly better, but tall metal ones pose greater threats to the undercarriage. I recommend drivers stop with wheels just touching the base of parking blocks without actually driving over them. Especially when turning over parking blocks, suspension ball joints are prone to deformation. If you hear a dull thud from running over a block, it's best to immediately check for tire bulges and undercarriage scratches. After all, repairing tires or suspension components isn't cheap.
From an engineering perspective, the height of wheel stops is typically set within 15 cm. The design intention is for the wheel to naturally come to rest against it rather than ride over it. If a wheel climbs the slope and presses onto the top surface, two issues may arise: first, the tire sidewall may endure abnormal pressure, with rubber deformation potentially causing internal ply damage; second, underbody components such as the front section of the exhaust pipe or the lower edge of the front bumper may scrape. Although occasional low-speed crossings may not cause immediate damage, repeated occurrences will inevitably reduce component lifespan. It's recommended to use rearview mirrors when reversing, stopping when the rear wheel contacts the wheel stop to avoid the entire vehicle climbing over. The 90-degree top edge of wheel stops isn't designed as a load-bearing surface, and riding over it can easily cause deformation.
