Your tyres are the only part of the car touching the road, so they come first. Here's a simple checklist you can work through in your driveway.
Tyres first
Pressure
Check it at least monthly and before long trips, with the tyres cold. Use the placard figure on the driver's door jamb, not the number on the sidewall.
Don't forget the spare. Here's how to check tyre pressure step by step.
Tread
The legal minimum is 1.5 mm, but grip in the wet drops well before that. Use the wear bars or a 20-cent coin. More in legal tyre tread depth in Australia.
Age
Tyres age even when they're not worn. Read the date code on the sidewall. More in the five-year check.
Damage and wear
Look for cuts, bulges, nails and uneven wear. Uneven wear can mean the wrong pressure or a wheel alignment problem.
Fluids
- Engine oil: check the level and colour. Dark or low means it's due.
- Coolant: keeps the engine from overheating. Top up if it's low.
- Brake fluid: low brake fluid needs a mechanic's look.
- Washer fluid: keeps the windscreen clear on dusty roads.
Change the oil and filter at the intervals in your owner's manual, and don't ignore a leak.
Lights and signals
Check headlights, brake lights, indicators and reversing lights. Replace blown globes straight away. Driving without working lights is unsafe and illegal.
Battery
Heat and cold are hard on car batteries. Watch for slow cranking or dim lights, clean any corrosion off the terminals and make sure it's held down firmly. If it's getting on, have it tested.
Signs something's wrong
- Noises: squealing brakes, a knocking engine or grinding gears.
- Vibration through the steering wheel or the car.
- Warning lights on the dash, including the TPMS warning light.
- Leaks under the car.
- Smells: burning, fuel or mould.
Get it checked sooner rather than later. Small problems are cheaper to fix.
Keep an eye on pressure between checks
A tyre pressure monitoring system shows every tyre's pressure on the dash, so a slow leak doesn't wait for your next driveway check. Compare every TPMS kit, or print our pre-trip tyre check.
Not sure what your rig needs? Email us your rig: info@flatmate-tpms.com
