A routine tire check should be a part of your periodic car maintenance to enhance your safety and increase the mileage of the vehicle. If you have long day-to-day commuting hours, tire checks should be done weekly, otherwise; a monthly check is sufficient. A tire check is mandatory in case you are traveling a long distance, such as when going on a road trip. A tire problem or a punctured tire could be very problematic when you are away from home, as it may not be easy to get help. Below are some helpful car tire safety tips you must follow when on a road trip.

• Check tire pressure : Air pressure is the lifeline of a tire and should be monitored every month. Maintaining optimum tire pressure will enhance the performance of your tire and prolong its life. Over a period, the tire loses pressure and becomes under-inflated. This causes it to heat up faster and stretch more than it normally does. This can be a big cause of concern during a long road trip as fuel efficiency will reduce and overheated tires tend to wear out quicker. Excess tire pressure could also adversely affect the performance of your tires. For the correct tire pressure, you should refer to your car manual.
• Check the sidewalls : Bulges and cuts should be checked as part of a car tire safety review before a road trip. Tires, during your daily drive, come in contact with sharp objects, cross many potholes and raised areas. This causes quick wear and tear of the rubber of your tires. In case you find any deformity in your tires, you must change them immediately.
• Check the age of the tires : All tires have a date of manufacture on them indicating when it was made. It is usually a 4-digit code on the bottom of your tire. The first two digits display the week of manufacture and the last two indicate the year. For example, if the number is 3519, it means it was manufactured in the 35 ^th week of 2019. Usually, a tire manufacturer recommends a change of tire every five years, depending on the condition of the tire. Tires have a maximum life span of 10 years, even if they remain unused, and must be changed after that.
• Tire alignment : Before you head out for a long road trip, it is very important to check the wheel alignment of your vehicle as part of a car tire safety procedure. Wheel alignment inspection should be done every 15,000 km. If wheels are imbalanced, that could adversely affect the mileage of your car and reduce the life of your tire. Skidding, tire vibration, and vehicle noise can be avoided if the wheel alignment is proper.
• Tire tread : You must check the tread wear of your tire when carrying out a car tire safety inspection. During a long road trip, you might encounter rain, hilly terrain, and sharp turns. All the above can be handled better if you have a deeper tread. The more the depth of the groove, the better will be the car control and tire grip.

Follow these important car tire safety tips if you are about to embark on a road trip, and be ensured of a safe journey.