Once you have your bags ready, your favorite playlist loaded, and all members of the group ready to hit the road, you may think your epic road trip is about to begin. But there are some tire safety precautions that you need to take to ensure that your road trip does not turn into a nightmare. So, here are some important pre-road trip tire safety precautions that you must not forget.

Check the air pressure thoroughly
As per the data by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, only 15 percent of drivers can check the pressure in their tires properly. Under-inflated tires cause drivers in the country to lose fuel worth 12 billion gallons in a year. Perfectly inflated tires have the potential to increase the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by up to 3%, as per the Department of Energy in U.S. Besides, having tires with wrong air pressure can be dangerous and harmful for the vehicle. To know the correct tire pressure, you can refer to the owner’s manual. It will tell you the right air pressure for all your tires, even the spare one.

Inspect properly
Knowing that your tires are in shape is one of the most important pre-road trip tire safety precautions that you must take. For this, spend some time with the tires and monitor them closely. Look for any signs of a cut, or splits on the sidewall area or in the tread. You might also check for any bulges or bumps. These could indicate that there is a separation within the body of the tire. If there are any bumps or bulges, take your vehicle for servicing and get it fixed. Doing this will save you a lot of problems that can arise due to tire failure while on the trip.

Avoid unnecessary luggage
Just like all other vehicles, your car will also have a maximum weight limit. You can refer to your owner’s manual to know the exact figure. The tires of your vehicle will also have a maximum load rating, which you can find stamped on the sidewall. You must make sure to pack your luggage according to these limits. Anything above and beyond can put extra pressure on the tires and the vehicle. As the car and the tires become heavier, the fuel economy becomes poorer. That’s something you do not want on a road trip.

Check the spare tires
The spare tire is as important as your current tires, especially when you are going on a long road trip. Make time to inspect the spare tire at the start of every month. If you can’t do that, you must check them before heading out for a road trip. If the spare tire hasn’t been used for a long time and has been stored for a long duration, you might need to replace it.