The east coast has had its share of rain recently, and the ice and snow of winter are not far off.  So we urge you to take all the precautions possible to avoid the safety hazards that wet roads bring. 
Your best protection against wet road hazards is good vehicle maintenance.  Routine maintenance of your car, truck, SUV or van will assure that your vehicle offers you the best road surface grip and visibility. 

Road Surface Grip:  Check Your Car’s Tire Tread Wear and Pressure

Tires with deep tread will handle water on the road; but if your tires are worn and the tread is thin, then you could experience hydroplane where the tires actually ride on a film of water – out of contact with the pavement.  This causes a condition that is much like driving on ice or snow covered roads, increasing the likelihood that you’ll lose control or have difficulty stopping .

Be sure your tire tread is at least 1/16-inch. Checking tire tread is easy.  Using an ordinary penny, insert it between the treads of the tire.  You likely have sufficient tread if you cannot see all of Lincoln’s head.  Otherwise, you will want to replace the worn tires before doing any driving on wet road surfaces.  When you examine your tire’s tread, also check for irregular tread wear patterns which would indicate that either your wheels need to be realigned or your tires need rotation.

Having proper air pressure in all your tires is also important, and you should check it frequently.  A simple tire pressure gauge stored in your car will let you do that.  You’ll get the most accurate reading if your tires are cold, so wait a few  hours after they were last driven if possible.  Check your vehicle’s owner manual to find out the correct pressure. And don’t forget to check your spare tire!

Road Visibility:  Check Your Car’s Windshield

Most driving decisions depend upon good visibility. So a windshield free of streaking and smearing – inside and out and on both the driver’s and passenger’s side – is important to your driving safety.  It’s important to keep your windshield wiper fluid reservoir full so you’ll never have to worry about whether you can quickly clear your windshield while driving if necessary.

Often, the cause of this streaking/smearing is worn windshield wiper blades – something that is simple and quick to correct.  Examine your wiper blades frequently for signs of wear and tear. Keep in mind, extremes in temperature as well as frequent use can cause worn blades.

Replacement wiper blades are inexpensive and easy to install in just a minute or two.  So be sure to change them at the first sign of wearing so you are not caught in a rain storm struggling with poor visibility that will endanger you and your passengers.

Here at Broadway Transmission & More in Red Lion, PA, we don’t service tires or windshield wipers, but any of our experienced technicians can refer you to a reliable service provider in the York County, PA area.