(Family Features) Summer often brings vacations and road trips, which can put extra stress on your vehicle and one of its most important safety components: the tires. Higher pavement temperatures combined with normal wear and tear – plus added traffic volume due to summer travel – can contribute to potential safety hazards.

Before you head out this summer, consider these tips from the tire experts at your neighborhood Discount Tire to stay safe on the road.

1. Check Tire Pressure Regularly
   Low tire pressure can lead to poor handling and gas mileage as well as excessive wear and overloading. Before any long trips – and at least once a month – check your tires’ air pressure, as bumps and turns can lead to air loss. Temperature changes also affect air pressure. For every 10 degrees in ambient temperature change, air pressure changes 1 pound per square inch (PSI).
    
2. Be Tire Tread Aware
   The amount of tread on a tire, or tread depth, determines safe stopping distance. The more tread on the tire, the better it can grip the road and stop in a shorter distance. To check tread depth yourself, stick a penny upside-down in a tread groove. If President Lincoln’s head is visible, your tires are worn beyond safe-level recommendations and it’s time to replace.
    
3. Understand Tire Age Matters
   As tires age, the rubber becomes harder and brittle, which can lead to higher risk for tire failure. Locate the DOT number stamped on the sidewall to check your tires’ age. Any tire that’s more than 6 years old should be replaced, but experts recommend replacing tires in sets of two or four to help ensure even wear. If you need assistance finding the right tires, Discount Tire’s tire recommendation tool, Treadwell, helps you find the best tires for your vehicle, location and driving habits using the same data tire experts use in-store.
    
4. Rotate Tires as Necessary
   Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles, or earlier if uneven wear develops, to maximize handling, traction and stopping power.
    
5. Keep Your Alignment in Check
   Wheel alignments are an important part of auto maintenance that adjust the direction your tires point to prevent irregular wear and improve steering. If you notice uneven tread wear, your vehicle pulling to one side or the other, an off-center steering wheel while driving straight or steering wheel vibration, it may be time to have your alignment checked.
    
6. Look for a Spare Tire
   Check to see what equipment your vehicle has in case of a flat tire, as many newer vehicles no longer include a spare tire. Now, some models include tire inflation kits with puncture-coating sealants and air compressors or run-flat tires instead. In case of emergency, also make sure you have a roadside assistance plan, which can help with flat repair, replacement or a tow.
    
7. Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle
   Hitting the road for a summer vacation means you’re likely towing equipment for your adventures and, of course, people. If you’re concerned about all that extra weight, check the manufacturer’s load recommendations to ensure you’re not putting too much stress on the tires.
    
8. Get Ahead of Weather
   While checking and maintaining your tires, it’s a good idea to look at other accessories ahead of summer weather you may encounter. Wiper blades should be replaced about every 12 months, or earlier if heavy streaking occurs during use.

To find additional tire safety tips and products or save on in-store wait times, visit DiscountTire.com.

SOURCE:
Discount Tire

https://stmdailynews.com/category/consumer-corner/automotive

Please leave this field empty

Want more stories
"Your morning jolt of Inspiring & Interesting Stories!"

Sign up to receive awesome articles directly to your inbox.

Email Address *

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

(Family Features) When spring arrives, days of enjoying your outdoor living space aren’t far away. Getting your yard ready for months of outdoor enjoyment will take a little work, but you’ll quickly see and appreciate the results.

These five steps can have you on your way to a lush, healthy lawn and outdoor area in no time.

1. Dethatch
   Throughout the winter, dead grass and other debris accumulate on your lawn. This waste, known as thatch, can be quite a hindrance to your spring lawn. It promotes fungi, encourages pests and keeps new grass seed from sprouting. You can use a special dethatching rake or any rake with sturdy tines.
    
2. Aerate
   Before spreading grass seed, you’ll want to give the new roots room to spread and grow. Aerating the lawn helps make your soil more welcoming to new growth by allowing moisture, nutrients and air to sink deeper into the soil. Depending on the size of area you need to aerate, two of the easiest options are doing the job by hand or using an attachment on a riding lawn mower.
    
3. Prune
   The lawn isn’t the only place debris can pile up. Your flower beds and any other vegetation can become a holding ground for twigs, branches, leaves and other yard waste. Give your plants, shrubs and trees a close look to find broken, damaged or dead material and remove it to make way for new growth.
    
4. Weed
   Even the healthiest lawns are susceptible to weeds, but getting a jump start on weeding early in the season can help you keep control. You can manage weeds by treating with an herbicide before the sprout or, if you prefer, there are chemical-free alternatives like vinegar, salt or cornmeal. Be aware that many alternative products don’t distinguish between the vegetation you want (like grass) and weeds, so these remedies are best used along borders and within beds to discourage weed growth.
    
5. Seed
   Winter weather and wear can cause uneven patches in the lawn. Seeding in the spring requires more work than the fall (especially if you tend to have hot, dry summers), but with enough nurturing and regular water, you can fill those spots in for a more uniform lawn.

Visit eLivingtoday.com for more advice to make your outdoor living space spectacular.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:
Family Features

https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle

(Family Features) Most parents know – or soon will – crying is completely normal for babies. Even once you’ve determined a cause for the cries, finding foolproof ways to soothe baby can be difficult.

While traditional methods of soothing like bassinets and swings are often effective, they typically require parents to always be close by to keep baby calm. Bassinets and swings with innovative, soothing technology can help provide the safest place outside your arms to ensure baby is comforted and secure, allowing busy parents to have peace of mind while managing everyday tasks.

To bring baby from cries to comfort, Graco has introduced the future of innovative soothing with its Soothing Bassinet and Soothing Swing. Using SmartSense technology, they respond to cries with thousands of soothing combinations to help create more peaceful, happy moments for you and your baby.

Find more solutions to help calm and soothe your little ones by exploring the collection at GracoBaby.com.

Soothe Baby Back to Sleep
Bassinets are recommended for newborns until they can roll over or push up (typically around 5 months old). Creating a fully immersive sleep environment, the Graco SmartSense Soothing Bassinet hears baby’s cries and responds by gradually adjusting thousands of soothing combinations to help lull baby back to sleep, including gentle motions, soft vibration, multiple speeds, white noise and calming music. Parents can also directly control the settings or stream songs and sounds via Bluetooth wireless technology. Its sleek aesthetic and woodgrain finish fit seamlessly into home decor while breathable, mesh sides and a firm, flat sleeping surface help create a safe sleep space for baby. Plus, the bassinet offers swaddle compatibility, allowing babies to sleep soundly by adapting to their needs whether swaddled or not.

Rock Your Baby to Comfort
Mimicking the way parents naturally soothe their babies, the Graco SmartSense Soothing Swing offers four unique motions – swing, rock, cradle and glide – as well as combinations of soft vibrations, speeds, white noise and calming sounds to help create more peaceful, happy moments. It boasts technology that hears your baby cry and responds in seconds with calming sound and motion. The swing also features a cozy body support made with organic cotton fabrics, three recline positions and a convertible harness with harness covers to keep your baby comfy and secure while swinging.

SOURCE:
Graco

https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle