Top 4 Tire Maintenance Tips for Summer Road Trips

Winter roads are the cause of car damage and tire-related inconveniences, but summer roads can be just as problematic without proper care. Even the best summer performance tires can give you issues if you aren’t a cautious driver during the summer. Tire problems arising during road trips are the worst but yet the most common issue if you don’t do a checkup or assessment of the car before hitting the road. You won’t always have mobile auto repair services available in your area if you’re on a secluded road in the countryside and staying in the heat changing a tire is certainly not a pleasant scenario. Follow our guide for summer tire maintenance tips to ensure smooth sailing this summer.

Appropriate Tires

First and foremost, ensure you are driving with appropriate tires once the temperature begins to increase. Whether these are summer tires or all-season tires, simply make sure you aren’t in any case driving with winter tires. Many drivers believe that if winter tires can handle the rough winters then they are fine to drive during warm weather as well. It’s important to switch tires seasonally not only to preserve the quality of your winter tires to be able to use them again potentially, but winter tires can also pose a variety of inconveniences during the summer.

Car Tire Pressure

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to take your car to the mechanic or self assess for any issues related to the oil, motor, and battery after winter. Summer maintenance is certainly a thing — and an important one! Your tires require maintenance as well, especially in terms of how well they are inflated. Scorching weather is a culprit just as much as extreme cold is, even though heat is often underestimated. Hot weather can cause your tires to overheat against the burning asphalt, but this can quickly turn into a problem if they are overinflated, underinflated, or overloaded.

To avoid getting stuck on the side of a road with a faulty tire, regularly check your tires’ air pressure. If the car has been parked in direct heat for a few hours even, check the air pressure for precaution. Car tire pressure in summer should be checked and maintained monthly.

Inspect the Tread

The tread of your car is not only important during autumn or winter, but also for the occasional thunderstorm in summertime as well. If your tires have reduced grip, this will be a safety hazard on wet roads. It’s time to change your tires when the tread is worn out to a depth of 4/32th of an inch or less and you can check for this yourself with a simple coin test. Wondering how you can maintain tires for longer wear? Additional tire care tips to consider year-round are getting your tires aligned twice a year, along with regular rotations of your tires for even tread.

Check Your Spares

Your spare tires are still your tires and they shouldn’t be left unattended for long periods of time. If and when you come across a roadside emergency, you want to ensure that your spare tire is good enough to replace the damaged one on your vehicle. It’s best to check the air pressure of the tire before heading out on summer road trips.

Tires are an important, yet sensitive component of your car. Even if you don’t physically damage the car due to a crash or running into a sharp object, hot weather is capable of leaving you on the side of the road with a faulty tire. As long as you follow these tire maintenance tips along with your regular summer car care, then the chance of running into problems this summer will minimize. We hope these tire maintenance tips will make your summer ahead an absolute breeze — at least on the roads. Safe travels!

Read also

5 Car Care Summer Tips
Winter Tires: The Importance, Their Benefits and Things to Remember
Common Summer Car Breakdowns To Avoid

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