News

So you’ve got a college-age kid heading back to the university? Here are some ideas on how to make sure his or her car is going to be safe and reliable for the coming months:

--Tires: Check the tread depth of all tires carefully, using the old penny trick. Insert a penny, Lincoln head down, into the tread grooves. If the tread reaches Lincoln’s head, the tread is at 2/32”, the minimum safe depth by state law. Try again with a quarter. Does the tread reach Washington’s head? That’s a depth of 4/32”. One more time with a penny – if the tread reaches the Lincoln Memorial, your tread is 6/32” deep.

--Oil change: How long has it been? Pull the dipstick. Fresh oil should be translucent and somewhat lighter than honey colored. Oil that is the color of black coffee and has a sour, acidic smell should be changed soon.

-- Emergency kit: Put together a kit that includes first aid supplies, a tow strap, flares or triangles, some protein-rich snacks, a flashlight, duct tape, a sweater or survival blanket and some simple hand tools.

--Windshield wipers: Replace wipers that are more than a year old, or appear cracked, chipped or dried-out.

--Lights: Be sure to check all headlights, turn signals and taillights. Are they working properly?  Are the lenses clear and not cracked?

Don’t send that college student off with a vehicle that you’re going to have to worry about. Make an appointment with us at Don Owen Tire and make sure that car’s road-ready for the coming semester!