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The state of American roads earning *** D+ rating in the latest infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The group estimates that 39% of major roads in the US are in poor or mediocre condition. So what can you do to protect your vehicle from rough roads and potholes? Let's start with the obvious. The first one that nobody wants to hear is slowing down. Eric Tingwall is the testing editor for our Hearst Partners at Motor Trend. He says you should. Maintain *** safe following distance and pay attention on the roads, but that conventional wisdom isn't your only strategy. Many navigation apps will actually call out severe potholes. I really like Was personally. Getting *** protection plan for your tires can reimburse costs from things like pothole strikes or hitting *** nail on the road. So You want to do your research before you buy and make sure you're getting something that will cover you for *** pothole strike and that it will compensate you enough to make the initial investment worth it. Eric also says you should pay attention to the size of the wheels on your vehicle. The bigger the wheel, the shorter the tire side wall, and the more exposed you are to pothole damage. It's really common these days for automakers to fit really large wheels with thin tires. Often if you go with *** lower trim model, you end up with *** larger tire side wall, which is less likely to be damaged. Eric says you'll generally find larger tire side walls on non-luxury SUVs and cars, pickup trucks, and mini. Vans, but no matter your vehicle, know your emergency plan if you have *** tire blowout or an accident. Making sure you have the phone numbers for whoever you're gonna call, whether that's roadside assistance or *** local towing company or *** family member or friend who might come and help you. If you do have *** spare tire, make sure you know how to use it, doing 15 minutes of research. Today can save you from hours' worth of headaches on the side of the road in the future. And if you hit *** pothole, be sure to inspect your tires and wheels for visible damage. Listen for any unusual noises that might indicate issues, and have your alignment checked to ensure your vehicle remains safe and drive smoothly. Reporting in Washington, I'm Amy Lowe.