As the weather warms up, your used car will require some special summer maintenance. One important factor you’ll need to keep in mind is how the hotter temperatures affect your tires. If you want to avoid blowouts and flats, consult the following guide.

Summer Guide to Tires in Hot Temperatures

1. Pressure Changes

As the air inside your tire heats up, the molecules move around more quickly, bouncing off the tire wall. This results in the gas expanding and increasing your tire pressure, potentially causing over inflation if your tires were already near the top of their range before temperatures rose. Check your tire pressure every time there is a major change in temperatures and release some of that air if needed. Check your tires in the early morning rather than after a drive or in the hot sun, as this could leave you with under-inflated tires when temperatures drop again.

2. Premature Wear

The rubber in your used car tires is full of natural oils that keep it supple over the years. The heat of that direct sunlight will bake those important oils out of the tire, making it brittle and prone to cracking, leaking, or splitting. Park out of direct sunlight, and check your tires for signs of cracks each time you check the pressure. If you see any — especially in the sidewall — replace them immediately.

3. Tread Separation

The tire is made of two layers of rubber: the outer tread and the inner line. The heat of the road and summer can cause those two layers to come apart. This can happen suddenly while you’re driving, which causes you to lose control. Your tire’s expiration date is set to before they reach this point, so get a new set when you’re due for it.

When your tires start showing signs of cracks or blow out this summer, you can affordably replace them with used car tires. Stewart’s Used Auto Parts carries a wide selection of parts for drivers in Barkhamsted, CT. They have a 9-acre salvage yard filled with late model cars and trucks, so they likely have what you need in their inventory. See their new arrivals on their website and call (860) 379-7541 to ask about their current availability.