Summer has come and millions of Americans will surely hit the highways for a summer travel vacation. Some families go to visit relatives in other states and others try to get out to visit popular tourist attractions like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls.
Triple A, the motor club, is projecting that over a million motorists will call them for help while out on the road this summer. Of course, that’s only the folks that have AAA coverage. There will be millions more who break down and get stranded and just have to call a local garage for help. One of the more prevalent problems that motorists call about is their tires.
Tires are what get us where we’re going every day but they are vulnerable to nails, screws, and all sorts of debris that finds its way on the roads of America. On any given day, you’ll find parts of tires, boards, trash, hubcaps, metal and who knows what else on an average highway. There’s really nothing you can do about it. But one thing you can do is make sure that your tires are all sound and properly inflated. This includes your spare tire.
Related Post: Tire Safety Check For Summer Road Trips
Summer Travel Safety Tips
Before heading off on your summer travel plans, go out and physically check your tires for bumps, bulges, punctures and such. If you have a tire that seems to lose air, be sure to get it checked out. You may have a nail or damage to a tire. Excessive driving, such as we do on vacations, will bring out the worst in your tires. They get overheated on the hot pavement, plus there’s all that debris to deal with.
It’s not a bad idea to take the car in to a local tire shop and have the tires all checked before leaving. Be sure to have the spare checked out as well and ask the technician to make sure all parts of your jack are there. Though flat fixer products are not normally recommended for use, it can also be a good idea to have a can on hand in case of an emergency. Imagine driving over some nails or glass and having two flats at once. That can ruin anyone’s vacation.
For People in Florida
One final tip that you rarely have to mention to Floridians is to watch out for tourists. They come in droves to Florida every year and they always seem to be lost and in your way. This is even more true during summer. Be sure to leave yourself extra time for commuting back and forth to work. Be aware that they’re there and they are stimulating the economy so be friendly, say hello and tell them where the good restaurants are.