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Your tires keep your vehicle connected to the road and are one of the most important factors in safe driving. That makes tire maintenance a vital part of keeping your Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, or Jeep in tip-top shape. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to help you keep your tires in the best condition possible. more Why Tire Maintenance Is Important Ignoring tire maintenance can lead to decreased fuel efficiency and larger vehicle safety issues like less control. Low tread, flat tires, and blowouts can even lead to accidents. While flat tires and blowouts aren’t always preventable with proper maintenance, low tread is completely preventable. Replacing tires when worn, rotating tires to distribute wear, and keeping your tires properly filled all help keep your vehicle safe and save you money on gas and future repairs. Tire Maintenance Basics With proper maintenance, you should get around 50,000 miles from your tires. Here are three ways to ensure you get the most life out of them. Visual inspection One of the easiest ways to maintain your tires is to perform a visual inspection periodically. Look for cracks in the rubber, which can develop due to age and UV exposure. It’s especially important to look for cracks if your tires are over 5-6 years old, as this is when they typically start cracking. You’ll also want to do a tread inspection. The tread gives your car traction; when it gets too low, you’ll have less grip and control on the road. Tire tread naturally wears down with use, so every tire will lose tread over time. New tires come with at least 10/32 inches of tread, almost ⅓ of an inch. Tires also come with a tread wear indicator, a line that becomes more visible as the tread wears down. When the tread is worn to the point that it is even with the indicator, it’s time to replace your tires. If you’re not sure how to locate the indicator, you can use a penny. Simply place a penny into the treat with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires. 2. Balancing and Rotation Balancing your tires prevents uneven tread wear and vibrations when driving. A special tire balancing machine measures the tires’ natural balance so that our technicians can balance out any vibrations by adding or removing wheel weight. Since each tire of your vehicle gets worn slightly differently, tire rotation balances the wear. This helps prevent excessive wear in one spot or on one tire. We recommend having your tires rotated each time you come in for an oil change. 3. Tire Pressure Monitoring Overinflation and underinflation can both lead to premature wear on your tires. If your tires are overfilled, you’re much more likely to have a blowout. Underinflated tires cause more drag and lead to poor fuel efficiency. Modern vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems that will alert you when a tire is over or underinflated, making it easy to ensure you always have the right amount of air. Visit the Santee CDJR Service Center for Your Tire Needs At Santee CDJR, our Service Center technicians have the tools and expertise to perform all types of tire maintenance. If you need new tires, we have an extensive stock of the right types and sizes for your vehicle needs. Schedule your next appointment or drop by our Manning, SC service center today! As your local service center, we’re here to get you back on the road fast! We are committed to offering competitive pricing and efficient tire maintenance to drivers throughout the Carolinas.

Being prepared for an emergency is smart. If you went hiking in the mountains, you would bring certain things with you; the same should hold true when you get in your car. Just because you're driving on the road doesn't mean you cannot find yourself lost, or broken down in the middle of nowhere.  Here are some must-have items you should keep in your car. more Cell Phone and Charger There are too many things that can go wrong while driving to anticipate, so you should be prepared to call someone for help. Most Americans have cell phones, so you probably already carry yours. But is it charged? Most people have car charger adapters, so in many instances you can simply plug it in and charge. What happens if your car battery dies, though? You can buy a portable battery pack that is smaller than your phone. You can then charge it from your car adapter, and keep it in your glove box. It could save you a long walk if you cannot call someone to come get you. First Aid Kit This is another item many people overlook, but could end up saving you big time. Having the basic first-aid items readily available is important, especially if you have children. A simple splinter or cut could be horrifying to a five-year-old. Instead of listening to howling crying until you get home or to a hospital, you could use tweezers to pull the splinter. Or you could wash the cut with an antibacterial wipe, and apply a Band-Aid. Problem solved, crying stopped! Jumper Cables One of the top three reasons AAA is summoned is for a dead battery. You should always have a set of jumper cables in your car, even if you do not know how to use them. There are plenty of people that do know how to use them, but may not have cables themselves. if you have cables, any car can give you a jump start if your battery dies. Seat Belt Cutter and Window Breaker The idea of crashing into a large body of water often doesn't occur to people, yet it happens. Two things get in the way of extracting yourself or a loved one from a sinking vehicle are seat belts and windows.jumper cables A seat belt cutter and window breaker tool costs less than $10, and could save your life. Keep one in the glove box, just in case. Spare Tire & Jack Flat tires happen all the time. Even if you have AAA, you might find yourself in a remote area, without phone service, or hours away from help arriving. Having the ability to change a tire yourself will get you back on the road quicker. Make sure your spare tire is inflated. Just in case, you should also have a can of tire inflator/sealant. It is pressurized air with a sealing component that will fill your flat tire with air and seal any small leaks it might have. Being well prepared with the items you keep in your car can prevent you from getting stranded. Be sure to stock up on these five items so you'll never worry about being stranded again. image via pixabay