Press release
Source: AAA
ORLANDO, Fla., - Preparing college-bound teens for life away from home can be an anxious and task-filled time. While many parents will be teaching and reminding their teens about diet, laundry and personal safety, they too frequently forget the important subject of car care and repairs before sending their teen and vehicle off to college.
Before sending their teen and vehicle off to college, AAA encourages parents to review four main areas about properly maintaining a vehicle and preparing for the unexpected.
Check and Maintain Tires
The four points where the rubber meets the road are the only things that stand between teens and a crash. They are one of the easiest items on a vehicle to maintain, but frequently are forgotten until something goes wrong.
- Parents should make sure their teens have a tire pressure gauge in their vehicle, know where it is located and how to use it properly. While there are a variety of tire pressure gauges, those with electronic readouts might be the easiest for the teen to use.
- Explain that tires should be checked at least once a month when the tires are cold.
- Show teens where to find the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure--which is located on a label on the driver's door jamb or in the glove box. It's important that teens know they should not use the inflation pressure found on the tire sidewall. That is the tire's maximum pressure level, but it might not the correct pressure for the tire when used on their particular vehicle.
- Take teens to a gas station with an air pump and let them practice adding air to their tires so they are familiar with how it's done.
- Make sure teens know they should also check the tire pressure in the spare tire as well as the four tires on the vehicle.
- Explain what to look for when examining the tread of their tires. Look for any nails or other objects that might be stuck in the tire and mean it's in need of repair. Inspect the tire for bulges or other abnormalities that would signal the need for replacement.
- Demonstrate how to check tire tread depth by inserting a quarter upside down into a tire groove. If they can see above Washington's head anywhere they check on the tire, it's time to start shopping for new tires.
Source: AAA
ORLANDO, Fla., - Preparing college-bound teens for life away from home can be an anxious and task-filled time. While many parents will be teaching and reminding their teens about diet, laundry and personal safety, they too frequently forget the important subject of car care and repairs before sending their teen and vehicle off to college.
Before sending their teen and vehicle off to college, AAA encourages parents to review four main areas about properly maintaining a vehicle and preparing for the unexpected.
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Check and Maintain Tires
The four points where the rubber meets the road are the only things that stand between teens and a crash. They are one of the easiest items on a vehicle to maintain, but frequently are forgotten until something goes wrong.
- Parents should make sure their teens have a tire pressure gauge in their vehicle, know where it is located and how to use it properly. While there are a variety of tire pressure gauges, those with electronic readouts might be the easiest for the teen to use.
- Explain that tires should be checked at least once a month when the tires are cold.
- Show teens where to find the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure--which is located on a label on the driver's door jamb or in the glove box. It's important that teens know they should not use the inflation pressure found on the tire sidewall. That is the tire's maximum pressure level, but it might not the correct pressure for the tire when used on their particular vehicle.
- Take teens to a gas station with an air pump and let them practice adding air to their tires so they are familiar with how it's done.
- Make sure teens know they should also check the tire pressure in the spare tire as well as the four tires on the vehicle.
- Explain what to look for when examining the tread of their tires. Look for any nails or other objects that might be stuck in the tire and mean it's in need of repair. Inspect the tire for bulges or other abnormalities that would signal the need for replacement.
- Demonstrate how to check tire tread depth by inserting a quarter upside down into a tire groove. If they can see above Washington's head anywhere they check on the tire, it's time to start shopping for new tires.
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