Summer health check: Road trip tips for smoother, safer, cheaper journeys

The small things matter, especially as Australia prepares to break for the summer holidays. Here are some easy, but essential, things to check for smoother, safer and slightly cheaper road trips.

**Tyre checks**

A regular quick tyre check is a must. Look for the obvious stuff – any cuts or nails – and the less obvious stuff, such as uneven wear to the tyre tread.

Across the tyre, the legal minimum for tread depth is 1.6mm, but most manufacturers recommend booking in for a change once tread drops below 3mm. You can check it by looking at the edge of the tyre wall and finding the letters ‘TWA’, which stand for ‘tread wear indicator’. Follow that up to the tread itself and you will see a little rubber bar in the middle of the tread. If the tyre is getting close to the bar between the tread, it’s time to change them.

Tyres are perishable, so even if they have plenty of tread and appear undamaged, they begin to harden after a few years whether used regularly or not. So even drivers that do few miles each year should replace them reasonably regularly. If you can’t remember when they were last changed, or if there are any cracks, discolouration or bulges in the tyre walls, it’s definitely time to get them checked by an expert.

**Tyre pressure**

Regularly checking tyre pressure is essential. Correct tyre pressure helps to improve driving stability, save energy consumption and extend the service life of the tyres. Which helps keep drivers and passengers safe – and saves both on the fuel bill (circa 2 per cent, according to the NRMA) and emissions.

Under-inflation is the most common cause of tyre failure and can increase risk of blowout as well as cracking and tread separation. Likewise over-inflation increases risk of blowout and means there is less of the tyre on the road – which means reduced grip and increased wear.

It’s best to check tyre pressure when they are cold, because the pressure changes once they have been driven more than a couple of kilometres. According to the NRMA, if you have to drive to a fuel station to check the tyre pressure, a good rule of thumb is to add 2 psi to the manufacturer’s specified tyre pressure to account for the increase in temperature and pressure.

**Wipers check**

Windscreen wiper blades are inexpensive but essential to keep in good condition – it’s neither easy nor safe to drive if wipers are not efficiently clearing water, dirt and debris.

Before lifting the wiper blades, tap the wiper service position button in the central display, then you can lift the blades to inspect and clean. If they are worn, it’s time to replace them. Find out how to change the wiper blades here, or ask your Volvo Car Australia retailer’s technician to do it during a service visit. If you’re doing it yourself, remember, the blade on the driver’s side is longer than the one on the passenger’s side!

**Battery check**

Car batteries degrade over time – especially if the car isn’t used regularly or is mostly used for short trips. That’s because, for batteries used in combustion engine vehicles, it takes a little while for it to regain the power lost in starting the engine.

It’s always worth keeping the battery terminals free from dirt and dust, and giving the battery an occasional trickle charge to keep it full and potentially extend its life.

Many 12v car batteries have a state of charge indicator, or you can use an inexpensive multimeter to test them.

A quick battery check, and if necessary replacement, could save the time and hassle of having to call out roadside assistance.

**Regular servicing**

Adhering to service intervals is crucial to keeping your car running smoothly – with regular maintenance a key tip from the man who holds the world record for covering the most miles in a single car (a Volvo).

Planning a long road trip this summer? It may be worth checking how many kilometres are left before the next service interval and booking-in early.

Volvo Car Australia’s retailers and approved service network can then check all of the main systems and parts to ensure everything’s running smoothly. Which is one less thing to worry about before setting off for a well-earned break.

Need a pre-holiday service and safety check? Find your local Volvo retailer here.