AAA data from Memorial Day weekend showed 38.4 million Americans traveling by car. AAA also handled over half a million roadside assistance calls that same weekend. Dead batteries, flat tires, overheated engines — the most common calls are also the most preventable.
Here's what to check before you go anywhere significant this summer.
Tires
Start here. Tires are the one thing between your car and the road, and summer heat accelerates the damage that spring potholes started.
- Pressure: Check cold, early morning. The spec is on your door jamb sticker, not the tire itself.
- Tread depth: Quarter test — if you can see the top of Washington's head, you're under 4/32" and shopping for new tires.
- Condition: Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, or uneven wear. Any of these means replacement before a highway trip.
- Spare: When did you last check it? A spare with 20 PSI and a cracked sidewall is not a spare.
Brakes
Brakes that work fine around town may fade under sustained highway deceleration or mountain grades. If there's a squeal, grind, or the pedal feels soft, address it before the trip. Brake pads average $150–$300 per axle — far cheaper than what happens when they fail at speed.
Cooling System
Heat is the enemy of your cooling system, and highway driving at highway speeds on a 95-degree day is a stress test. Check:
- Coolant level (engine cold) and condition — should be clear, not rusty or brown
- Hoses — squeeze them; soft, spongy, or cracked hoses are overdue
- Radiator cap — a failing cap loses pressure and can cause overheating even with adequate coolant
Air Conditioning
Not just a comfort issue. In extreme heat, AC failure in a car with elderly passengers, children, or pets can become a medical emergency fast.
"A recharge is the first thing people think of when AC blows warm, but a leak in the system that empties it again in a week is a different problem. A proper diagnosis finds which one you have."
Belts and Hoses
The serpentine belt runs your alternator, power steering pump, and AC compressor. If it snaps on a highway, you lose multiple systems at once. Have it inspected if it's been over 60,000 miles or shows cracking.
Windshield and Wipers
You replaced your wipers in spring — good. Now make sure your windshield is clean inside and out. Summer afternoon sun hitting a dirty or hazy interior windshield creates dangerous glare.
Emergency Kit
If you don't have one, build one before this trip. A reasonable road trip kit includes:
- Jumper cables or a lithium jump starter
- Tire inflator (portable 12V compressor)
- Basic tool kit and duct tape
- First aid kit
- Flashlight with fresh batteries
- Water — enough for each person if you have to wait for roadside
- Reflective triangles or road flares
Roadside Assistance
AAA membership costs about $60–$100 per year. For that you get towing, flat tire service, lockout help, and fuel delivery. If you're going anywhere remote, it's worth it. Some credit cards include roadside assistance — check yours before you sign up.
A mobile mechanic can run through most of this checklist at your driveway or office parking lot. EthicalMechanic.org can help you find one near you. An hour before the trip is worth a lot more than a breakdown two hundred miles from nowhere.