Be Summer Ready!
Be Summer Ready!
Summer is here!
To make the most of the sunshine, here are our top four tips on how to make sure your vehicle is summer ready and enjoy the adventures that lie ahead. Safety is the number one concern, so whether it’s a drive to visit family and friends, going on an exploration across Europe, or staying more local, these tips will help you make the most of every journey this summer.
- Make Sure Everything Is Working
Before even considering a summer adventure, the vital safety checks on your vehicle are a must. The safety of those in the vehicle and those around depend on it, it’s the responsibility of every driver on the road to check that their vehicle is in running order. Here are a few tips on how to make the necessary checks before hitting the road:
- Does the vehicles battery have enough power?
- Are all the liquids in the vehicle topped-up?
- Window washer
- Oil
- Water
- Break fluid
- Do the window wipers need replacing?
- Are all your lights, including hazard lights, working or require replacing?
If unsure, pop down to your local garage to check everything is in running order and fix accordingly.
- Check Your Tyre Pressure
Before departing on your summer adventures, be sure to check the tyre pressure is at the optimum level to ensure all tyres deliver the highest possible level of safety and fuel efficiency.
Over the summer months, you’re more likely to load your vehicle with more weight than normal – not only will you have more passengers on board but you can also have everything from luggage to camping equipment. More weight means you need to adjust your tyre pressure to compensate.
Tyres that are inflated to the correct pressure wear down more uniformly, last longer and save fuel. To find the optimum tyre pressure, the correct values can be found stated on the side of the driver’s door, inside the fuel filler flap, in the owner’s manual, or in the glove compartment. Also, don’t forget to check the tyre pressure before driving when tyres are cold, as tyre pressures change once in motion.
- How Worn Are Your Tyres?
Checking to see how worn out tyres are is vital. The tread is a key element in keeping a vehicle stuck to the road, and the people in the car safe. Should the tyre tread be worn out, make sure to get yourself down to a local tyre dealer or garage and change them.
We’d recommend checking the tread depth of your tyres frequently (the legal minimum requirement is 1.6mm) using a dedicated gauge or by wear markers located in the main tread of tyres.
When checking the condition of tyres, make sure to check:
- All four tyres
- The centre and side of each tread
- In at least two points along the tread/around the wheel
- Protect Against The Unexpected
Preparing for the worst is all part of being a responsible driver, allowing your friends and family to relax knowing that they’re in good hands. One of the most annoying unforeseen situations is a punctured tyre, and it can truly put a damper on your summer adventure.
Before setting off make sure that you check your spare wheel is in good shape, that you’ve got your hazard kit with you to alert other drivers should you need to pull over, and also consider fitting Bridgestone DriveGuard tyres. There are many types of punctures are out there, thankfully, Bridgestone DriveGuard tyres are there to keep you going for an additional 50 miles at 50MPH* (i.e. 80 km at 80km/h), so you can safely reach your destination, a garage or a safe place to call assistance. There’s no reason to be stressed should you end up with a puncture.
So, there we have it. Wherever your summer adventure takes you, keep these top tips handy to ensure you’re ready for all eventualities and can keep going, no matter what.
*Driving distance after a puncture may vary depending on vehicle load, outside temperature, and when the TPMS is triggered. Bridgestone DriveGuard tyres are classified Wet Grip A in EU labeling. DriveGuard tyres are currently not available for vans, and are only available for cars equipped with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).