With Easter and spring-time staycations on the horizon, it’s easy to get distracted by packing and forget the importance of checking your vehicle and its tyres ahead of a long journey.
We’ve teamed up with the experts at leading mid-range tyre brand, Davanti Tyres, to recommended these five maintenance checks to carry out before you set off on your road trip.
1. Check your tyre pressure and unusual wear and tear
It is recommended that you check your tyre pressures once a month as standard, so if you haven’t checked in the weeks before your trip, take the time to do so now.
Tyres can quickly become deflated if they aren’t checked regularly, and this can result in excessive and uneven wearing of the tread. Additionally, any visible perforation, cut or deformation has the potential to render the tyre unsafe to use so they must be checked thoroughly by a tyre professional if you find something unusual.
2. Make sure there is enough tread
This improves your grip, the vehicle’s handling, and – ultimately – your safety. The 20p test is a simple, quick, and easy way of checking the tyre tread of your car’s wheels. Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.
3. Don’t overload your car
We’re all guilty of overpacking, but remember, your vehicle’s tyres are doing the hard work of supporting the total weight of the vehicle and withstanding deformations, speed, and heat, so be mindful of how much you’re taking with you.
If you do need to carry a heavier load than normal, adjust the tyre pressure accordingly, which can be found in the car’s documentation.
4. Light up your holiday
Before you set off, do a quick check of all the lights on your vehicle. For example, turn on your headlights when you’re parked in front of a flat surface and check that both headlights are working properly and well-positioned, as well as checking indicator and parking lights.
5. Engine oil
The oil in your vehicle’s engine serves a whole slew of functions: it lubricates the moving parts, helps act as a sealant against debris, cools the engine, reduces wear and tear, and helps prevent engine corrosion.
It’s well worth taking that extra 10 minutes to ensure your oil level is at the right level ready for your road trip.
As Peter Cross – General Manager, Davanti Tyres – says: “Regular car maintenance and tyre checks are important. If you ensure any small issues are resolved quickly, it stops a small issue becoming a bigger problem and putting a dampener on any staycations.”
