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Maintenance
 Survival
Strategies
Check
Your Tires
Trip Safety Checklist
Neglected maintenance leads to more than 2,600
deaths annually, nearly 100,000 disabling injuries
and more than $2 billion in lost wages, medical
expenses and property damage (Automotive Aftermarket
Industry Association, May 19, 2003).
In the summer, tires are especially vulnerable
because long trips, heavy loads, higher temperatures
and higher speeds put additional stress on tires.
Surveys conducted by NHTSA
in 2001 concluded 27% of passenger cars and 32%
of light trucks (including SUVs, vans and pickups)
on U.S. roadways are driven with one or more
substantially under-inflated tire. U.S. Transportation
Secretary Norman Y. Mineta urged motorists to
check their tire pressure and inflate them properly
before setting out on trips: “Driving
with substantially under-inflated tires can lead
to crashes and tragedy, in addition to reducing
fuel efficiency and shortening tire life.”
In 2001, NHTSA estimated that 49 to 79 deaths
and 6,585 to 10,635 injuries could be prevented
annually if all vehicles were equipped with tire
pressure monitoring systems. This system would
warn drivers when a vehicle has a significantly
under inflated tire.
Survival strategies
- Bring your car in for a major service
visit two weeks before a big road
trip.
- Make time for a last-minute safety
check . Before getting on the road,
check tire pressure, wipers and fluid levels.
Clean windows and adjust mirrors. Check child
safety seats and any towing hitch.
- Secure any loose objects in vehicle .
In a collision a loose object can become a deadly
missile. Drive the speed limit. A high rate of
speed in hot weather over a long period of time
is an increased burden on your tires.
BACK TO THE
TOP
Check Your Tires
- Measure tire pressure when tires are cold
and use an accurate gauge.
- Keep tire pressure
at the level recommended in your owner’s manual, also listed on
a label in the glove box and another near the
door latch on the driver’s side.
- Check tires regularly for visible signs of
wear, damage, bulges or tread separation.
- Don’t confuse
recommendation inflation with maximum
inflation, which is printed on the side of
the tire. At the recommended inflation pressure,
tires will last longer, be less likely to
fail and the car will use less fuel. Serious
injury can result from over- and under-inflating.
- Never overload your
vehicle. Your car and tires are designed
to operate safely only up to their load limits,
which are listed the owner’s
manual and on the side of the driver’s
side door.
- Tire tread should be
deep enough so that grooves at least
touch the top of Lincoln’s head
on a penny inserted head first into the
groove. Bald tires with low tread should
be replaced.
- If tires are worn unevenly, check with your
tire dealer, service station or mechanic. You
could have worn shock absorbers or misaligned
wheels. Make sure tires are aligned and balanced.
BACK TO THE
TOP
Trip Safety Checklist
Two weeks before a major road trip, take your
vehicle to a trusted mechanic with a full-service
shop. This allows enough time to make necessary
repairs, and allows time for adjustments. In most
cases, if anything goes wrong after major repairs,
it will be in the first 100-200 miles (www.trustmymechanic.com).
Download a print version of our checklist by
clicking
here.
Two weeks out, have your mechanic
- Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance
on your vehicle
- Inspect tire treads and pressure in addition
to evaluating tires for rotation and balance
- Check braking system
- Examine hoses and belts
- Check spark plugs
- Check your battery
- Check and replace (if needed) filters
- Check fluids (brake, power steering, transmission,
anti-freeze/coolant
- Inspect exhaust system
- Change oil
- Make sure all signal lights (brake, turn,
back up) are working and replace bulbs if necessary
- Check windshield wipers, replace if necessary
The day of your trip
- Check tire pressure
and fill, if necessary, to manufacturer’s
recommended tire pressure
- Clean windows
- Make sure towing hitch is secure
- Check lights on trailer or other item being
towed
- Top off fluids
- Adjust interior and exterior rearview mirrors
- Make sure all loose objects inside the vehicle
are securely fastened.
- Test child’s safety seats to make sure
they don’t move more than an inch and
are fit your child snugly.
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