Pep Boys Identifies the Metro Areas With the Toughest Roads for Drivers
Pep Boys data reveals the top U.S. metro areas with the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs and what drivers can do to stay ahead of costly wear and tear.
Pep Boys’ new report highlights the U.S. metro areas with the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs, based on service trends across its operating markets.
Photo: Work Truck
2 min to read
Pep Boys released new data highlighting where drivers see the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs. The company analyzed service trends from its shops nationwide and found that certain metro areas experience far more alignment, suspension and tire-related issues than the national average.
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Those repairs can often signal local challenges, everything from extreme weather and heavy congestion to ongoing construction and uneven road surfaces.
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The findings are based on Pep Boys’ internal repair data from September 2024 through September 2025 across the markets where the company operates. The rankings reflect where these repairs occur more frequently and are not tied to any official roadway quality ratings.
Top 30 Metro Areas With the Toughest Roads
So, what are the top 30 metro areas with the toughest roads fleets need to be aware of? Pep Boys’ findings show clear regional trends. Florida leads the pack with more affected metros than any other state, and many of the hardest-hit areas aren’t the country’s biggest cities.
A mix of weather, construction and local road conditions across the East Coast, Southeast, and Midwest all show up in the service data, creating a broad cross-section of markets where vehicles take a beating more often than average.
Cities were ranked by frequency of road-related repairs.
Orlando, FL
Chicago, IL
Panama City, FL
Lafayette, IN
Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
Tallahassee, FL
Knoxville, TN
Youngstown, OH
Charleston, SC
Augusta, GA
Evansville, IN
Springfield, MO
Columbus, OH
Baton Rouge, LA
Lafayette, LA
Philadelphia, PA
Mobile, AL
Miami–Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dallas–Ft. Worth, TX
Pittsburgh, PA
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Charlotte, NC
Norfolk, VA
San Francisco, CA
Harrisburg, PA
El Paso, TX
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A map view highlighting U.S. metro areas identified by Pep Boys as having the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs, based on service data.
Photo: Work Truck
A Closer Look at Two Key Markets
Orlando lands at the top of the list, with higher-than-average alignment and suspension work along with frequent single-tire replacements. Heavy commuter traffic, long construction zones and Central Florida’s shifting soil conditions likely contribute to what drivers experience in the area.
In addition, according to Pep Boys, Chicago’s harsh freeze-thaw winters show up in the data through increased tire replacements and wheel balancing needs. These patterns are common in regions where repeated winter cycles take a toll on pavement and, in turn, vehicle components.
What Can Fleet Drivers Do?
For fleets operating in areas with higher road-related repairs, we know it's not always possible to just "avoid the bad roads," so a little prevention can go a long way:
Keep up with routine tire inspections.
Schedule regular wheel alignments.
Check suspension components for early wear.
In other words, stay up on your preventive maintenance. Staying proactive can help extend vehicle life, reduce downtime and keep drivers safer on unpredictable roads.
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