Expert tire tips for your summer road trip

❚ Don’t overload your car: Excess loads can put too much pressure on your vehicle’s tires, says Trevor Chapman, a spokesman for Farmers Insurance. “That increases the chance of a blowout.” Check your owner’s manual or tire information placard for maximum recommended load limits. ❚ Rotate and align your wheels: Flats and blowouts can happen when the vehicle causes one side of the tread to wear rapidly. “It wears all the way through the tread and further until it’s worn down to the inside and the air escapes,” says Woody Rogers, a product information specialist at Tire Rack. The fix? Have your tires rotated and aligned to prevent this kind of wear and tear.

❚ If you’re not sure, ask: Tire pressure settings can be a little confusing. For example, the proper pressure your tires need is noted on a decal on the driver’s side door. “Don’t use the numbers molded on the side of the tire as a guide for pressure,” notes Mike Calkins, a technical services manager for AAA. “This information relates to tire’s load capacity and not the correct pressure for your car’s tires.”