(NAPSA)—Stranded on the side of the road is one of the last places drivers want to be—it’s not only inconvenient, but it’s potentially dangerous. Unfortunately, thousands of motorists find themselves in that situation each year. The automotive experts at Uniroyal Tire have developed sometips that can prevent you and your family from waving the white flag: Keep up with a checkup— Simple maintenance helps avoid unnecessary complications on the road. Check your vehicle regularly to make sureit’s in good working condition. Make sure all lights work, including signal lights, brake lights and reverse lights. Checktheoil. Is it low? Is it clean or dirty? The oil and filter should be changed every 3,000 miles. While checking under the hood, keep an eye on your radiator and wiper fluid levels. Check your brake fluid and make note if your brakes are making any noise. If they are, have them checked by a professional. * Don’t just kick the tires— Tires are the only things connecting you to the road, so make sure they are performing at their best. Tires lose almost one pound of pressure per month and one pound of pressure for every 10 degrees of temperature change. Maintaining properair pressure is essential for optimum tire life and performance. The exact pressure can be found in your owner’s manual. Use a reliable tire gauge and check pressure whentires are cool for the most accurate reading. Inspect the tires for wear by examining the entire tread, from the center to the shoulder. It’s time for new tires if the tread is worn downto the wear bars—visible strips of rubber in the groves Tread safely—Self-sealing tires from Uniroyal give drivers peace of mind whentraveling. of the tire. Know how to change a flat tire or consider purchasing a set of self-sealing tires such as the Uniroyal NailGard. Uniroyal designed its NailGard tire to instantly and permanently seal most nail, bolt and screw punctures up to “Ace of an inch. These tires have a patented rubber compound that lines the interior of the tire tread and seals around the object, preventing slow leaks. Once the object is removed, NailGardfills the hole, creating a permanentseal. Be prepared—Whenhitting the road, always have at least one-third of a tank of gas in the car. When the tank runs low or dry, the possibility of more oxygen, moisture, and deposits making their way into the fuel line increases. This can shorten the life of your fuel filter. Be sure to keep a cell phone with you in case of an emergency and carry some emergency items in the event your car does break down. A flashlight, flares, jumpercables, first-aid kit and bottled water should be easily accessible. For more information, visit www.uniroyal.com.
