How to Get Your Car Ready for a Summer Road Trip

Summer is almost here! Have you started thinking about when and where you want to go for vacation? Many people enjoy taking summer road trips, since they're a great way to see various parts of the U.S. (or the world, if you go international). They can also help to bring you closer to your family and friends. However, it's important to be sure that your car is prepared for the journey! Here are some important ways to get your car ready for your road trip:

1.  Get an oil change – If you haven't gotten an oil change recently, now is a good time. An oil change will keep your engine in good shape and ensure that your car continues to run smoothly. It can also prevent a breakdown, which is the last thing you'd want to have happen during your road trip.

2.  Purchase new tires – How are your tires looking? Before heading out on the road, be sure to examine them. Check your tire pressure to make sure they have enough air and take a look at the treading and make sure they aren't bald. If they're pretty old, this would be a great excuse to invest in Nokian tires. This brand is incredibly high quality, and heavy duty enough to handle any conditions that you might face. On a road trip, you'll be driving many miles through numerous states and it's important to make sure your tires can handle the distance. With new, quality Nokian tires, you'll have one less worry.

3.  Check your air conditioner – You may be comfortable now, but come summer the temperatures will rise and you'll need good air conditioning. Spending a lot of time in a hot car will only make you and your passengers miserable, which is kind of beside the point of a good road trip. A car that is overly hot also runs the risk of overheating and shutting down. Be sure to test your air conditioner out in advance and fix any problems before hitting the road.

4.  Fill up on gas – Without gas, you won't be going anywhere! It's a good idea to make sure your tank is full before heading out so that you can get a good distance before you have to stop. And no matter how much fun you have singing along to "Life is a Highway" at the top of your lungs, keep an eye on the fuel gage. Also, have a GPS or phone, or simply map out where gas stations are before you go anywhere. Some areas of the country are sparsely inhabited, and you don't want to be an hour away from the nearest gas station and run out. And word to the wise: in some of these remote areas, gas stations close at around 10 P.M. and don't open again until the next day. When in doubt, fill up whether you are low or not!

Where will you be headed to during your summer road trip this year?

Riding Safe, Riding Stylish: Tips for Car Maintenance

Operating a vehicle is not just about getting from point A to point B anymore. Whether you are driving for work or pleasure, you want your car to be comfortable, safe, and stylish as well. This doesn't always happen without putting some thought, time, and capital into what you drive. To take the guesswork out, we have some tips on how to get the best of both worlds when it comes to the care of your vehicle.

Periodic Maintenance

First and foremost, make sure you are taking care of your vehicle at regular intervals as recommended by your car's manufacturer. If you have a warranty, these maintenance checkups are often included at no cost or with a small deductible, so why chance it? The last thing you want is to overlook or ignore something that seems small, and have it snowball into a bigger (and more expensive) problem. Would you walk around for 3 months on a hurt leg before going to a doctor? I hope not! The same is true for your vehicle. It's better to spend 20 minutes getting a free estimate and finding out everything is fine – or that the problem is minor – than to let it fester and wind up putting you in danger further down the road (pun intended).

Regular Hand Car Washes and Details

The best way to keep your car looking stylish and shiny is to wash it at regular intervals. It sounds like a no-brainer, but you wouldn't believe how many people neglect this simple rule of thumb. Regular washing can keep grime, residue and buildup from scratching your paint job, and waxing will help restore luster and shine to the body. This will also help protect from future damage, as the waxing provides somewhat of a barrier to dirt. Most importantly to safety, always coat the outside surface of your windshield with a rain-repellant; this will greatly increase your visibility during storms.

Seasonal Tire Swapping

You may have seen cars or trucks sporting chains on them this past winter to help with the traction. While those are certainly effective ways of increasing tread, you also have the option of buying more than one set of tires. Here is a great option to research: compare and buy Nokian tires that are specially crafted for the constant change in driving conditions that people deal with in places like the northern Midwest or the northeast. Regular maintenance of your tires is also recommended. Check the treads periodically and rotate the tires every other oil change to prevent unevenness and premature replacement. With multiple road hazards coming your way in all seasons and conditions, keeping your tires in check should be a top priority during your quest for a safe and stylish ride.

Slip Sliding Away: Why Getting Seasonal Tires is Just Smarter

As the season turn from winter to spring, many motorists will be making the switch from winter tires back to high performance summer tires. But a great many more will be continuing to drive on the same tires they use year round, unaware that the vastly different driving conditions that come with the winter months require a different kind of tire equipped to handle the season’s unique challenges. More still may be unaware that there even are such things as “winter” and “summer” tires, and that attempting to drive through winter conditions with the wrong ones could be extremely dangerous.

Summer tires are most commonly marketed as “high performance” tires, and typically come standard on the sport model of a car. The tread is larger and designed to expel water, giving it superior handling on wet roads. Winter tires, conversely, feature a tread pattern cross-hatched with a network of thin cuts known as “sipes” that are designed to bite into the elements and provide unbeatable traction on snow and ice.

Another factor is the actual chemical makeup of the rubber used in each tire. Summer tires are formulated to remain firm in warm weather; however, this formula also causes the rubber to freeze in cold temperatures, essentially turning your tires into giant hockey pucks. The compound used in winter tires is far softer and more resistant to freezing, but provides little in the way of traction in warmer temperatures.

A natural response to all of this would be, “Well, why not just buy a set of all-season tires and be done with it?” The answer is the common adage: Jack of all trades, master of none. If you live in an area that does not experience severe winters, then an all-season tire might work out for you. However, as many people in the Northeast realized with this winter’s Polar Vortex, extreme conditions will very quickly lay bare an all-season tire’s weaknesses. Many consumers were inspired to buy Nokian tires after their supposedly all-season wheels left them stranded. Acceleration and stopping speeds can be up to double a winter tire’s performance on an all-season tire, leading to potentially dangerous situations (particularly if a person is driving with the assumption that their tires are able to handle the conditions on the road).

There is also the added benefit of doubling the longevity of each set of tires! Having tires specifically designed for the weather will dramatically increase the life of the tread, and changing the tires twice a year will eliminate the need for tire rotations. Healthier tires mean lower gas mileage and much greater safety for you and your family.