How to Make Sure Your Vehicle is Safe Before Driving It

Checking over your vehicle before you drive will improve your safety.

Posted October 12, 2022

Doing regular maintenance on your vehicle is important to improve its longevity and ensure that it’s safe to drive. There are some preventative maintenance techniques that you can perform visually before you drive your car each day, and there are some procedures that you can get completed at your local Integra Tire. Taking the time to follow your vehicle’s regular maintenance schedule can save you time and money down the road. Here are some things that you can do to help ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive:

Check Your Fluids – your vehicle has many fluids coursing through it. Your vehicle uses motor oil to lubricate your engine’s parts. It has brake fluid to help move parts of your brake system and lubricates your brake system’s components. Transmission fluid is also used in your car to lubricate its gearbox and provide pressure and friction to make its parts function. Your vehicle contains coolant that helps to prevent your engine from overheating. It also has power steering fluid that helps to keep your steering wheel from stiffening up, which would make it difficult for you to turn your car. Lastly, your vehicle has windshield washer fluid that will make it so your windshield stays clean, and you can see out of it. It is important that all of these fluids stay topped up so they can keep your vehicle running safely. If you think that any fluids in your vehicle may be running low, visit your local Integra Tire to have them checked.

Related Video: How to Check Your Oil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRV4PD1-oUs

Check Your Tires – checking your tires is an easy way to help ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. Each time you get into your vehicle, do a quick check of each of your tires to ensure that none of them look low and that there is no debris lodged in them. Once every few months, you can use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure. You can find the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle in your owner’s manual or on your driver’s side door sticker. Lastly, you can check your tire tread. To do this, insert a toonie into your tire tread. If your tire tread reaches only about half-way into the letters, it’s time to shop for new tires.

Related Video: How to Check Your Tire Pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YfnK7mauII

Check Your Battery – your vehicle’s battery will often only last 3 – 5 years, especially in our harsh Canadian winters. If your battery is reaching 3-years-old, then we recommend getting its voltage checked to make sure that it won’t die when you try to start your vehicle. We can check your battery when you make your next appointment at your local Integra Tire.
Check Your Emergency Kit – it’s important to travel with an emergency kit, but it’s also important to make sure that your emergency kit is fully stocked. In the winter your emergency kit should contain booster cables, an ice scraper, a shovel, sand or kitty litter, a flashlight, warm clothing, blankets, cell phone charger, and non-perishable snacks. Check all of the items in your emergency kit to make sure that nothing needs to be replenished.

If you follow all of our tips, we hope that you’ll always get where you are going safely and remember that your local Integra Tire is always here to help get you back on the road.

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.