5 Ways to Make Sure Your Vehicle is Road Trip Ready

It’s safety month here at Wheels Donlen, but more importantly, it’s summer across the nation! Whether it’s going down to the lake house, visiting family and friends, or exploring our national parks − summer is always an excuse to go on a road trip.

Wheels Donlen is here to make sure that wherever you’re going, your vehicle is in tip-top shape. This week’s topic on our road trip series is maintenance, and here are a few tips to help make it a smooth ride:

1. Check tire inflation: Low tire pressure creates high levels of heat that are both unsafe and can prematurely wear out your tires. On the other hand, properly inflated tires mean better mileage and a longer lifespan for your tires!
2. Check tire alignment: If your tires are unaligned, your vehicle’s handling capability will decline. Uneven suspension will lead to the vehicle veering to one side, just like those pesky grocery carts. This makes it more difficult to turn and drive in a straight line. Aligned tires make it much easier on both you and your vehicle.
3. If needed, change your oil: Oil changes are all about the engine. If you change your oil before the long trip ahead, you can avoid dirt/debris build-up and dangerous heat levels in your engine.
4. Check if your air conditioning is working properly: A long car ride in the summer is miserable without air conditioning. Just like your vehicle’s engine needs a way to cool down, so do you.
5. Make sure your brakes aren’t worn out: Driving with worn-out brake pads can be very dangerous. Brake pads squeeze your vehicle’s rotors to create friction and slow down the vehicle. But over time, brake pads wear out. When this happens, your vehicle squeaks, and it’s harder to generate friction and slow down. If that’s the case, it’s time to replace them.

Just like you deserve this much earned vacation, your car deserves some TLC too. So, don’t forget to check these 5 items before you start your sun-filled trip. If you’re interested in learning more about keeping your vehicle in its best condition, contact us.