Getting Your Car Road Trip Ready For Summer

We always see tips and guides for getting your car ready for winter, but no one ever talks about summer preparation. Every summer millions of people jump in their car and head off on a road trip. So here are some tips on how to make sure your car is ready.

Check your tyres

Its always a good idea to get your tyres in spick and span condition to avoid any mishaps which could happen without warning. It may be the case that you just need to put some air in them to make sure they are inflated to the right pressure to avoid causing a rupture, however you may need to replace your tyres if the tread is worn or you have a flat tyre. The rubber of a car tyre can seriously disintegrate in hot temperatures, even more so if the tyre is of the wrong pressure. Heat can cause them to dry out and lead to a blow-out. While you're at it, make sure that your spare tyre is properly inflated and also get the tracking and wheel alignment looked at. Check out Iverson Tyres Middlesex Branch for great offers on your tyres. 

Check your brakes 

Summer traffic is often much faster than winter traffic and your brakes see a great deal of abuse. Brake pads often suffer from massive temperature changes due to the high usage. It's always a good idea to book your car into the garage for a quick check. 

Check your battery/lights etc

Your car battery is dangerous as it is composed of acid and water. The water within the battery will evaporate faster in soaring temperatures leaving lead plates exposed. When the weather turns cold again, your battery may no longer have the charge to start the car. It's a good idea to check your battery periodically to make sure that its fluid level is up to snuff and that there is no visible discharge or leakage around the battery's top. 

Whilst checking your battery it's also important to check your light bulbs regularly. Make sure you also check all of your bulbs incase one or more of them are out. Also buy a spare incase you need to change it on a road trip. You can get pulled over and even fined for driving with a busted lightbulb.

Top up your fluids

Checking and changing the oil, topping up coolant levels and making sure your tyres are in good condition are all important. While you should change your car's engine oil regularly, its even more important ahead of a long road trip to avoid unwanted stops. Making sure you have enough coolant could be as simple as topping up the levels to keep your engine at the right temperature. Always keep spare coolant, oil and washer fluid in the boot of your car especially for long road trips. 

Check your wipers

Like most rubber products, wiper blades are usually designed to work best in a specific temperature range. Blades formulated for warm weather are different — more flexible and efficient but often less durable — from those designed for winter. Winter blades tend to be more flexible at lower temperatures but too soft at high temperatures, leading to premature failure. Most blades also take a beating in winter while scraping over jagged ice buildup which means come summer they make be worn out. 

You never know what the weather will be like in the UK as it can be so unpredictable so you wouldn't want to be caught out with a dirty windscreen and not being able to clean it whilst driving down the motorway. No matter how expensive your winter blades might have been, they're very likely worn out and streaking by summer. Greater visibility equals greater safety and less stress, and wiper blades don't cost much. 

Is your car ready for summer?