6 Steps to Safer Winter Driving

(Family Features) The winter season is typically one of the busiest times of the year for travelers. While millions prepare to hit the road to visit family and see sights they may never have seen before, there’s one essential travel tip that cannot be overlooked: the proper tires.

Winter tires are an essential safety feature for drivers and deliver as much as a 25-50 percent increase in traction over all-season tires, which could be the margin you need to brake in time to avoid trouble.

Winter tire tread design uses thousands of extra traction edges for added grip, and the softer rubber of the tire surface allows the tires to stay pliable in colder temperatures to maintain contact with the road. In addition, winter tires feature aggressive groove patterns for more confident grip on ice, slush and snow.

Learn the best time to install your winter tires and how to keep them in safe condition with these guidelines from the experts at Discount Tire:

Plan ahead. A good rule of thumb: if you can see your breath, you should think about winter tires for all four wheels, even if your area isn’t often affected by ice or snow. When the temperature drops to 45 F and below, all-season tires can start to lose traction and grip.

Keep tabs on pressure. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, your tires lose one pound of pressure (PSI). Use a tire pressure gauge to get the proper reading or stop by a tire store, such as your local Discount Tire, for a free air check.

Check your tread with the penny test. Tread depth determines a vehicle’s safe stopping distance. To check your tread depth, stick a penny upside-down in a tread groove. It’s time to replace your tires if Lincoln’s head is visible.

Know the limitations of all-wheel drive. Drivers often mistake all-wheel drive as sufficient for driving in sleet or snow. In reality, all-wheel drive only helps you start from a stop. It doesn’t function in the stopping or steering of a vehicle.

Designate a winter set of wheels, too. Having a set of wheels specifically for your set of winter tires can save you money in the long run. A second set of wheels eliminates the cost of changeover and spares nicer wheels from the wear and tear of ice, slush, snow and salt.

Extend your winter tires’ use. Rotate your tires at least every 6,000 miles, or earlier if irregular or uneven wear develops. Change out your winter tires around tax season. This can help avoid wearing out the rubber in hot months and increase the tires’ lifespans.

As you prepare for winter travel season, visit discounttire.com to find a tire store near you, or search for winter tires specific to your vehicle’s make and model. 

Prepare Your Car for Summer

(Family Features) Summer is a time for sunshine and road trips. No matter the length of the trip, you’ll want your car safe and functional, especially with your family and friends in the passenger seats.

With summer weather approaching, it can be a great time to inspect your vehicle and make sure everything is up to par. No matter if you’re worried about safety or showing off your ride in style, there are specific steps you can take to prep your car for warmer temperatures:

Inspect your brakes and tires
Tires and brakes can suffer a lot of damage through normal driving. You should check your tires and brakes for wear at least once a month and before and after long trips. Look for debris embedded in tires and for excessive wear, scuffs or bubbles. Also try removing your brake pads to look for wear or cracking, and make sure the edges aren’t discolored. If you see any signs of damage, consider consulting a professional.

Check your oil level
If your oil level is low or the oil is discolored, it might be time to replace it. There should be a line on your oil dipstick to show how much oil should be in your car. For the most accurate reading, clean your dipstick with a rag or paper towel then reinsert it into the reservoir before removing again to check the level.

Wash your ride
There is hardly anything better than rolling down the road with the windows down and a freshly washed car. Try to rinse off and scrub the outside windows, sides and lower parts of the car to remove seasonal residue. Vacuum out the inside including the seats, floors and trunk. Wax can also be helpful to make your car shine in the summer sun.

Check your fluids
There are several fluids under the hood to check, including brake fluid, transmission fluid and power steering fluid. Check to ensure you have the appropriate amount of each fluid and if not, fill them appropriately.

Test the air conditioning
Summer can be hot and no one likes a sticky, overheated car that’s been sitting in the sun. You and your passengers can be set and ready to roll with a working air conditioner. Try to test it out before the summer heats up and make sure it is working properly.

Add safety essentials
Long trips to explore new places are a hallmark of summer fun. However, you need to be prepared for anything, even worst-case situations. You can buy a premade emergency kit or simply create your own. Some necessary safety measures include jumper cables, a small tool set, a portable floor jack and a spare tire that’s in good condition.

Install new windshield wipers
Your windshield wipers work hard throughout the year. They can easily become dull and worn out. Before a summer rain shower strikes, it might be time to replace your windshield wipers with a fresh set.

Look at the coolant
Summer can be a prime time for cars to overheat with rising temperatures. Check your coolant and flush and refill it, if necessary, to help ensure your car doesn’t get too hot during hours of travel.

For more tips to prepare for summer fun, visit eLivingToday.com.

5 Tips for Summer Road Trips

For many people, summer means setting out on a road trip in search of bucket-list-worthy excitement or a relaxing vacation.

Whether you’re going down the road to visit family or across the country to see a national monument, it is important to prepare your vehicle – and its tires – before you pull out of the driveway.

These five safety tips can help get your family ready to hit the road this summer:

1. Check Your Tread – A tire’s tread depth can determine a vehicle’s safe stopping distance. You can check your tread depth by sticking a penny upside-down in a tread groove. If you can see President Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires.

2. Ensure Proper Tire Pressure – Low tire pressure can lead to poor handling and gas mileage, excessive wear and overloading. Drivers should check their tire pressure at least once a month, and especially before any long trip. Use a dependable air gauge or stop by an automotive store like Discount Tire or America’s Tire to take advantage of complimentary air checks.

3. Rotate Often – Tires should be rotated at least every 6,000 miles or earlier if irregular or uneven wear develops.
4. Inspect Your Trunk – Some new vehicles no longer come equipped with a spare tire, opting instead for tire inflation kits that feature puncture coating sealants and air compressors, or even run-flat tires. Check your trunk to see what your vehicle contains and make sure you have a roadside assistance plan should the need arise.

5. Don’t Overload – The combination of heat and overloading a vehicle, which can be common during summer travel, is one of the most dangerous conditions for a vehicle’s tires as overloaded tires can overheat and possibly fail.

When it comes to summer driving safety, it can be imperative to check your tires early and often. Knowing the condition of your tires can keep your family safe and your vehicle in quality condition.

“It is important that drivers know how to check and maintain their tires and recognize the warning signs of when to replace them, especially during the hotter months,” said Tom Williams, senior vice president at Discount Tire. “Keeping customers and their families safe is our No. 1 priority each summer.”

To learn more about tire safety before a summer road trip, or to schedule an appointment for a tire safety check, visit tires.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

4 Tire Safety Tips for Winter

(Family Features) The same temperature you can begin to see your breath – 45° F – is also when the all-season tires on your car can start to lose traction and grip.

As temperatures drop, drivers should remember that if you can see your breath, you should think about winter tires. Whether you’re planning a cross-country trek or simply driving to and from work daily, exposing your vehicle’s tires to colder weather could lead to potential trouble on the road.

Snow and ice may be fun to play in, but they make for dangerous driving conditions. Winter tires are built for cold-weather conditions and deliver improved starting, stopping and steering control in temperatures 45° F and below. The difference is the tread compound of winter tires, which stays soft and pliable in colder temperatures for superior traction. Add the tread design of winter tires with thousands of extra gripping edges and you get as much as a 25-50 percent increase in traction over all-season tires.

To help stay safe on the road this winter, the experts at Discount Tire recommend following these four tire safety tips:

1. Get ready now. It is important to replace all four of your vehicle’s all-season tires with winter tires if you regularly drive in temperatures 45° F or below, snow or no snow. Winter tires are made of a softer rubber that allows the tires to stay pliable and maintain better contact with the road through winter weather conditions.

2. Don’t forget the wheels. Having a set of wheels specifically for your winter tires can save you money in the long run. Pairing a separate set of wheels with your winter tires can eliminate certain changeover costs and save your everyday wheels from the wear and tear brought on by ice, slush, snow and salt during the winter months.

3. Know your numbers. Check your tire pressure at least once a month to make sure tires are at the appropriate inflation level. Temperature changes affect tire pressure – for every 10 degrees of temperature change, tire air pressure changes 1 pound per square inch. Low tire pressure can lead to decreased steering and braking control, poor gas mileage, excessive tire wear and the possibility of tire failure. Also don’t forget to check your spare tire.

4. Rotate, rotate, rotate. To help increase tread life and smooth out your ride, rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or sooner if irregular or uneven wear develops.

Your safety is important, that’s why Discount Tire encourages drivers to beat the rush by getting winter ready before the first snowstorm or cold streak of the season hits.

To locate a tire store near you, or search for winter tires specific to your vehicle’s make and model, visit discounttire.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Hit the Road Safely

(Family Features) There are few better times for a road trip than during the summer months when the sun is bright and the kids are out of school. Despite the expected rise in gas prices, AAA reports 79 percent of families are planning to hit the road this year, 10 percent more than in 2016.

Whether it’s just you and your significant other or a jam-packed car, the experts at Interstate Batteries recommend taking these steps before hitting the open road:

1. Have a plan. Spontaneous stops can be fun and necessary to stretch your legs, but it’s always important to be safe and prepared when traveling. Even if every detail isn’t set in stone, having a rough sketch of a plan can help make your trip more enjoyable. Also be sure to share your route with someone who isn’t going. It’s safer to have someone know where you are. Use apps to let your friends and family track your road trip or help you map your trip and provide helpful tips on expected fuel costs, upcoming rest stops and nearby restaurants. Having a plan allows you to keep your trip organized without becoming a bust if you stray a bit off course.

2. Think beyond the essentials. You’ll obviously remember the necessities, such as maps, electronics chargers, snacks and pillows. Extra batteries for gadgets, portable power banks and a quality flashlight are always good to have on-hand when venturing afar, but there are other items you could be forgetting. Try to imagine every possible sticky situation and prepare accordingly. Remember to pack spare keys just in case you lock your keys in your car. Other useful items include a first-aid kit and a roadside assistance kit in the event your car breaks down. Remember that it’s better to be prepared than to find yourself in need of something you left behind.

3. Get your paperwork in order. Bring your license, registration and insurance information with you. This may sound obvious, but people still forget these documents sometimes. Make sure it’s all up to date, too.

4. Give your car a checkup. Perform basic maintenance on your vehicle before you hit the road, such as checking fluid levels, windshield wipers and more. Ask your technician to look at the tread on your tires and ensure your brakes are working properly. One thing you might not think of is getting your battery tested at a convenient location, like an Interstate All Battery Center, as summer heat is harder on a battery than winter cold. According to an automotive market survey, nearly 1 in 4 vehicles on the road will need a new battery this year. Most people don’t know they need a new battery until it’s already dead, and the last thing you want is to hear that dreaded “click-click-click-click” when you turn the key during any leg of your trip.

There can be a lot of planning and research put into the perfect road trip. Follow these tips to make sure you’re able to go wherever the road takes you. Find more information at InterstateBatteries.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images