FALLING LEAVES and YOUR TIRES
It wont be long now before the first leaves of fall drop in Bel Air Maryland. As a result, Ward Automotive is always eager to assist customers in preparing their tires for seasonal travel or daily commuting.
As leaves accumulate on roadways they can provide dangerous or slippery conditions for drivers as tires can easily lose traction. Driving on wet leaves is similar to driving on ice as surface structure is not stable and can quickly cause an accident. Reduce chances for traction loss or tire related accidents with tires from Ward Automotive in Bel Air Maryland. Our technicians look forward to helping customers find the best tires for their vehicle in every season as driver safety is our primary concern.
Fall Servicing.
Everybody is aware of servicing his or her car for winter, but we at Ward Automotive also recommend a fall service as well. Shorter days, colder temperatures, falling leaves, rain and fog all make for tricky fall driving. Both you and your car need to be ready.
Request an appointment with Ward Automotive for a fall servicing. We’ll check your car from bumper to bumper—including fluid levels, belts, hoses, tires, and brakes—to ensure that your travels are safe and hassle free.
Be sure your wiper blades and battery are up to the cold, rainy weather.
Early fall means back to school. Watch for walkers and bikers.
Leaf piles are a magnet for kids. Keep an eye out for children jumping, burrowing, and hiding in raked leaves next to the curb. Never drive over leaf piles.
Don’t park over leaf piles, either. Hot mufflers and catalytic converters can set dry leaves on fire.
Falling leaves are picturesque, but wet leaves are as slippery as ice. Before you start out, brush the leaves from your windshield and from under the wiper blades. Wet leaves cause streaking that makes it impossible to see.
Periodically, clear the leaves from the air intake to your defogger. Check at the base of the windshield, or under the hood at the back of the engine compartment.
Remember that deer are especially active in October through December, during the breeding and hunting season. Use your peripheral vision to spot animals before they enter the roadway. At night, watch for eye reflections.
Keep a pair of sunglasses, a ball cap, or a visor handy. At this time of year, the low angle of the sun can make it difficult to see.
Use common sense when driving in rain. Reduce your speed and watch for standing water. On multi-lane roads, drive in the middle lane to avoid puddles along shoulders and curbs. In fog, dim your headlights.
Fall Tires
All-season radial tires are well-suited to fall driving conditions—as long as they have sufficient tread for drizzly weather. That means more than the legal minimum of 2/32 inch. Give your tires the Quarter Test. The tread should cover the top of George Washington’s head when he’s turned upside down in the grooves. That indicates 4/32 inch of tread, much better for sluicing away rain.
When temperatures dip below 45 degrees, it’s time to think about winter tires, but we will cover that one when the time comes.
Now is also a great time to get a front end alignment and have your brakes and suspension checked. Don’t put off now what you might be too busy to do when the Holiday season arrives, after all it is just around the corner.
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