The great Aussie road trip.
Summer is a time to enjoy an adventure with family and friends. Let’s make sure your car is safe and up for the trip.
With summer in full swing, most of us will be doing some kind of driving either for work, or you might have a planned holiday trip to see family and friends as restrictions have eased.
It’s important to have your car checked regularly by a professional but there are also a number of things you can do to make sure it's safe for a summer weekend.
A few simple things you can check yourself at home are:
- Tyre tread and condition
- Fluids and oils
- Wiper blades
- Car battery
- Lights and accessories
Maintain a safe vehicle with optimum tread life.
Your tyres should be checked regularly for tread depth and pressures and should be at the top of your checklist whenever you are heading off on long distance trips. They’re also of equal importance when driving about town.
Consider your tyres as a safety feature, you wouldn’t use a faulty seat belt now would you? Your tyres are the only thing connecting you with the road, so you want to have faith in your ability to stop or maneuver your vehicle, especially in the case of an emergency.
A simple walk around your car to observe your tyres will allow you to pick up on any signs of damage or tread wear and tear. Using the tread depth bar indicators located in your tyres longitudinal grooves, you can check your tread depth. When your tread has reached these bars, it's time to replace your tyres.
Sometimes it may be necessary to keep another set of wheels and tyres for different applications. This is common among 4WD and race track day enthusiasts. They use their runabout tyres around town, then swap them out for track tyres, either Mud-Terrains or slicks if you’re hitting a race track.
You may also store winter or All-Season tyres for your passenger car. This is a great way of getting the most out of your tyres in both performance and longevity, saving you money in the long run.
Having two sets of tyres may be a financial stretch for many, so choosing the right tyre for your intended driving purpose is crucial. Whether you're choosing tyres for your SUV, passenger car or 4WD, Tyrepower can assist you in making the right choice.
Check your car's fluids and oils
Checking your vehicle's fluids and oils is really important to keep your car running in optimum condition.
Maintaining your vehicle's fluids is a simple check that can be performed in the home driveway. Your motor oil, coolant, wiper fluid, brake, steering and clutch fluids can all be checked and topped up with little to no mechanical knowledge. Check your vehicle’s user manual for more information or call Tyrepower Kogarah today.
Check and clean your wiper blades regularly
Wiper blades are often overlooked until you are in a downpour and your visibility is limited due to watermarks in your vision. Simply cleaning your wiper blades regularly with a damp cloth will help to prolong their life and ensure they are working effectively. Wiper blades typically need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months which is inexpensive and easy to do at home.
Check your car battery before heading off on any road trip
Most modern car batteries now come equipped with a visible battery check window. Century batteries have a clear circular window that will display a green ring with a red center. This indicates the battery is in proper working condition. A red ring and center means your battery needs to be replaced and will most likely not even start the car.
Check your lights and vehicle accessories
Checking your vehicle's lights and accessories, like trailer plugs and driving lights, is important before any long distance driving or holiday trip. Double check your roof racks are secured and your spare tyre is inflated and secured properly.
Looking for the best tyre advice in Sydney? Tyrepower Kogarah stocks the biggest range of Pirelli, Maxxis, Michelin and Kumho tyres south of Sydney. Find us at 7 Lindsay Street, Rockdale or call today on (02) 9587 3366.
