Different times of year tend to impose different pressures on your vehicle. During summer, the effect of heat can be a factor in a range of car-related problems. If you’re going to stay safe on the road at this time of year, it’s best to adopt a few key practices when it comes to maintenance and the time you actually spend on the road.
Check Tyres and Tyre Pressure Regularly
As air heats up, it expands. When that air is inside your tyres, this expansion can put more pressure on the walls. This will drive up the risk of blowouts, especially if the pressure was high to begin with.
Make sure that you inflate your tyres before embarking on any long road trip. Do this, ideally, when the tyres are cold. You can use a station at your local garage, or you can invest in the equipment you need to do it at home. Refer to the recommended pressures in your car’s manual – but be sure to adjust according to the loads you’re carrying.
You might even take the opportunity to upgrade the car ahead of a long road trip, with the help of car finance options, or perhaps a short-term lease. This way, you can be sure that the tyres are fit for purpose.
Stay Cool, But Smart With the Roof or Windows Down
If you have the ability to do so, you might be tempted to cruise around for long periods with the roof down and the windows open. But doing this for the entirety of a very long motorway trip might put you at increased risk. If the sun is beating down, you’ll be at risk of sunburn and dehydration. While it’s sensible to wear sunblock, and sunglasses, and to drink plenty of fluids throughout the trip, it’s also worth limiting your roof-down time.
Top Up Fluids—Especially Coolant and Oil
During the summer time, your engine will be under extra strain. As such, it might be more reliant on the coolant available in the system. If your engine overheats, you’ll end up stranded. As such, it’s worth checking your coolant levels before starting any trip. Think also about other essential fluids, like engine oil and screenwash. In the former case, you’ll want to pick out a product that’s been formulated with summer temperatures in mind.
Prepare for Traffic and Glare
If you’re going on a summer road trip, then you might be at risk of running into masses of other road users who’ve had the same idea. This is especially likely if you’re all converging on a festival, or a tourist hotspot.
Prepare to spend a lot of time moving slowly through this kind of dense traffic. That means protecting your eyes with the right driving sunglasses, and ensuring that the front windscreen is clear enough that your visibility is not impeded when the sun begins to dip in the evenings.
Pack Essentials in Case of a Breakdown
The right prep can help drive down your risk of disaster – but it can’t eliminate it entirely. As such, it’s worth having a stockpile of useful supplies, in case you do get stranded. These should include phone chargers, water, sun protection, and a first-aid kit.
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