Of course you and your family are ready for summer fun–but what about your car? You’ll be depending on it for those short road trips, long vacations, and your everyday runs to the pool or summer movies.
Cars can be a huge expense–especially these days when you factor in the cost of gas and oil. One of the most effective ways to save money on your vehicle, no matter what you’re driving, is to keep up with your car maintenance. Sure, it costs time and money to be sure you take care of your car–but it will cost you lots more time, and definitely lots more money, if you don’t.
Summer Car Maintenance
Even if you’re not mechanically-inclined, there are a few summer car maintenance tips that you can be aware of to get your car ready for summer fun.
Summer Car Kit – Since you’ll be spending so much time in your car, clear out winter’s clutter (ice scrapers, blankets) and be sure you have the things you really need to be toting around.
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- First-Aid kit
- Water bottles
- Spare tire and tire jack
TIP: Be sure to check all the seat belts to be sure they buckle and unbuckle properly.
Check Your Brakes – Changes in temperatures and normal wear and tear means that your car won’t be road ready for summer until you get your brakes checked. To me, this is just a safety issue that I am not willing to forgo. We put a lot of effort into winterizing our cars, but not so much in getting them ready for summer, when the truth is, that’s the season that we are out and about so much more.
TIP: Make washing the car a fun family event. Let the kids wear their swimsuits and have fun playing with the water hose!
Checking Tire Pressure – When you’re tires are properly inflated, you save money! Under inflated tires not only cause you to use more fuel, but you will also cause increased wear on the tires, which means you will have to replace them sooner. Plus, when tires are not properly inflated, you run the risk of having a dangerous accident. So this is important!
TIP: Make a habit of checking your tire pressure every month.
You don’t need to run by the auto service center to check your tire pressure. You can do it yourself.
- Most gas stations have air compressors that include a tire gauge. You can check the pressure and fill your tires for around $.50- $1.00.
- Learn the tire pressure level needed for your car by looking on the yellow sticker that found in the doorjamb on the driver’s side, or in your car owner’s manual. (PLEASE NOTE: Your car might need different pressure levels for the back tires and the front tires.)
Hankook Tire $80 Rebate
Do you need new tires this summer? Hankook Tires just introduced their new line, the Ventus S1 Noble2 tire, which was designed to offer more efficient water evacuation (think summer downpours!) which means your car handles better on slick wet roads this summer, and improved traction when winter rolls back around as well. And they’re offering an $80 rebate–making this the perfect time to purchase!
**Buy now and you will get an $80 rebate on the new Ventus, Dynapro, and Optimo tire lines. Check out the rebate HERE.
What car maintenance steps do you take to get your car ready for summer fun?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hankook Tires. The opinions and text are all mine.
Awesome content and tips that every car owner can follow through it.