Jack Williams

Late-Summer Car Care Tips

Most people think that winter is the toughest season for your car. But they underestimate how hard prolonged heat is on your car's cooling system, tires and battery.

Here are some car maintenance items to think about as you wait out cooler fall temperatures:

1. Don't neglect your tires. Check the pressure in each of your tires at least once a month. And don't forget the spare in the trunk. Most flat tires are not caused by road hazards or faulty tire construction but by underinflated tires. A flat tire is not only inconvenient; stopping by the side of the road to change it can be very dangerous, according to the NHTSA.

2. Keep an eye on your battery. Extreme heat can be more brutal on a car battery than extreme cold.

· Keep your car battery fully charged.

· Watch for corrosion on the battery terminals and make sure the battery cable connections are tight.

· Check the ground wire to make certain it is tight, because if it is not making a good connection, you'll be stranded.

3. Have your air conditioning system checked by a trained air conditioning specialist if it doesn't seem to be cooling enough.

By staying on top of various maintenance items that you may take for granted, like tires, batteries and air conditioning systems, you can be certain they won't let you down. And now - during the last days of summer -- is a good time to make certain all these important items are in tip-top shape before the temperatures begin to plunge.

Jack Williams Tire and Auto Service Centers specialize in all of your vehicle's service needs. Whether your vehicle needs factory scheduled maintenance, state inspections or emission inspections, Jack Williams' ASE certified professionals know just how to help you. Visit any of our 29 locations to meet with Jack Williams' team of experts for alignments, brakes, shocks, struts, exhausts, batteries, fluid services, oil changes, filters, belts, hoses, diagnostics and more! Jack Williams Tire is proud to employ ASE certified technicians.