When To Carry Out Car Maintenance

Whether you’re heading out on a road trip or simply commuting to and from work, you must make protecting yourself on the road a priority. After all, failing to do so could not only put your own health and safety at risk but the lives of others too. Thankfully, there are various ways you can achieve this goal, such as by: 

• Being an attentive driver, whose focus remains on the road.
• Familiarising yourself with different traffic regulations and laws when driving in unfamiliar areas.
• Keeping your car in good condition.

That being said, keeping your car safe and in great condition can quickly get expensive, which could be worrisome for those who are trying to afford a car when finances are shaky. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can keep up with car maintenance without breaking the bank. For starters, you should be able to ascertain when certain repairs are necessary so that you aren’t spending money without good reason.

When should you replace a windshield?

Knowing When you should replace a windshield is important as if you are driving when your windshield is badly damaged, you are putting yourself and others at risk. For example, even the smallest crack in the glass could impede your vision, making you less aware of potential hazards. As such, you should replace your car windshield when you notice a chip, crack or star break – especially if this crack appears particularly long or deep.

When should you replace your tires?

You should replace your tires at least every six years. However, you may need to replace them more frequently should you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, or in areas of rough terrain. Thankfully, there are plenty of signs that you need new tires that you can look out for, such as tread depth falling below 1/16 of an inch in depth, bulges or blisters on the surface of the tire, or an uneven driving experience. 

Thankfully, this is an example of a car maintenance task you can carry out yourself instead of having to hire a professional to do it for you. In fact, providing you follow the proper instructions, changing your tires does not even have to be a time consuming project. 

When should you replace your car’s lights or headlights?

It is a legal requirement to ensure that your headlights are in good working condition, due to the fact that they are integral to your roadside safety, especially if driving at night or during times of poor visibility. As such, you should replace your car’s headlights as often as necessary – avoiding them burning out altogether before you seek a replacement. On average, the lights in your car will last between 500- 1,000 hours, which should give you an indication of when you will need to replace them. You will also be able to tell that your headlights will soon need replacing if they appear dimmer than usual, the light is flickering or they appear to be hazy.