Summer Road Trip Tire Checklist

Essential Tire Maintenance Before a Long Trip

Before your big road trip, you should give your tires a once-over to make sure they are long-haul-ready. Check your tires for any abnormalities like uneven wear, cracks, or bulges in your sidewalls. If you see any of those issues, make sure to replace them before your trip for greater safety and peace of mind.

When you're inspecting your tires, you should also ask: how long have I had these? Any tire that is older than 6 years old should be replaced. After six years, tires start to deteriorate, raising the risk of tire blowouts. You should also ask yourself when your last tire rotation was. If you're due for an oil change, make sure you get your tires rotated as well for evenly distributed wear on your tires. You don't want to wear down your front tires even more, especially on long trips.

Do you have a spare tire? Prepare for the worst by knowing where your spare tire is so you can be ready for a potential tire failure.

Lastly, verify your vehicle's recommended tire pressure and fill them up to the appropriate level for best performance.

These next tips aren't tire-specific, but these are best practices before you put hundreds or thousands of miles on your vehicle. Check your brake pad width, resolve any dashboard light issues (TPMS, engine, brakelight issues, etc.), and get an oil change if you haven't gotten one recently. This way you will be running your vehicle at its best for a safer, calmer trip.

Checking Tire Pressure and Tread for Highway Safety

Checking your tire pressure means that you're ready for the road ahead. If your tire pressure is below the recommended level, it can cause more friction and excessive heat, which can lead to a greater risk of tire failure, reduction of braking power, and poor handling.

You can check your tire pressure several ways. The easiest way is to go to a gas station and use their air pumps to ensure your air pressure reaches the recommended level. You can also use digital, gauge, or pencil/quick tire pressure gauges for an easy way to check tire pressure before you hit the road.

You should also check your tread depth before going on a long road trip. If your tire tread is below recommended driving levels, you should replace them with new tires for optimal driving control. You can buy a tread depth gauge or use the coin method to measure your tread depth. If your tires are below 4/32" you should replace your tires before putting hundreds of miles on them.

Best Touring Tires for Long-Distance Driving

Best Car Touring Tires

Falken Aklimate

Designed for all-weather reliability, the Falken Aklimate packs a punch for long-distance driving. Ready for the elements, the Aklimate is designed for smooth winter traction and year-round handling. Its innovative rubber compound grips the road better on wet surfaces, balancing stability, control, and ride comfort. With its 65,000-mile warranty, you can expect to get lots of road trips out of the Falken Aklimate.

Hankook Kinergy ST H735

This touring tire is made for all driving conditions — rain, snow, or sunny summer road trips. The Kinergy boasts a 70,000-mile warranty, so you can expect lots of comfortable mileage with these all-season performers. With optimized block stiffness, the treads are designed to last longer and deliver improved handling and fuel efficiency. You don't have to sacrifice comfort, performance, or mileage with these reliable tire options.

Continental TrueContact Tour

Take as many road trips as you like with the long-lasting TrueContact Tour tires. Ideal for cars and crossovers, these tires flex all-season versatility and long tread life to give you the confidence for long drives all year round. Its EcoPlus Technology provides fuel savings and optimized mileage while also delivering shorter braking distances, so you have the support you need in quick reaction scenarios.

Best SUV Touring Tires

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring A/S

This touring tire is designed for optimal ride quality at any time of the year. With Tru-Last Technology these tires are designed for even treadwear to get more out of your tires. Its tire footprint shape delivers a comfortable ride quality for confident, peaceful driving.

Goodyear Eagle Touring

The Goodyear Eagle Touring tire is made for year-round driving that makes the trip a little easier. Its optimized contact area enables superior handling and responsiveness for all wet, dry, and snowy road conditions. Its specialized tread pattern keeps road noise quiet during highway driving. This tire can make for another great addition to your road trip with its reliable traction and durable treadwear.

GT Radial MaxTour LX

Specifically made for SUVs and crossovers, the GT Radial MaxTour LX is built to make driving more comfortable. The 70,000-mile warranty gives you the confidence to drive farther, while its deep sipes and tread pattern deliver ideal traction in wet and light snow conditions. These tires are also engineered with Harmonically Optimized Sequencing for a quieter, more comfortable drive so you can road trip with peace of mind.

How Heat Impacts Tire Longevity on Summer Roads

When you're driving long distances this summer, it's important to know how the heat affects your tires. The summer heat affects your tire pressure significantly, with tire pressure rising by 1–2 PSI every 10 degrees. That means your PSI will rise with the heat. If you have your tires inflated to their max recommended level, excessive heat can push them over the recommended benchmark, leading to reduced traction, longer braking distances, and a higher risk of tire failure.

If you're leaving your car in the hot sun all day, that heat can also impact your tire's rubber. The longer the tire is in direct sunlight, the more the rubber starts to slowly break down. If you leave your car out in the sun a lot in the summer, you might see it start to dry out or even crack, leading to serious risks of a blowout. Now, this does take a long time to happen, but you should still be aware of the risks and park in the shade or a garage as much as possible.

One More Thing — Find Tires With Roadside Assistance Coverage

Before you head off for those road trips, you'll also want to be aware that some tire brands offer complimentary roadside assistance coverage, not unlike AAA. Many of these programs will have services like flat tire changes, towing to nearby shops, and jump starts, just to name a few. As an added benefit, many of these programs are valid for anywhere between 1 to 4 years from the date of purchase, so you can keep going without worrying.

Some of the top tire brands we sell that offer roadside assistance include:

• BridgestoneBridgestone is a major player in the light truck and passenger car tire space, and it offers Roadside Assistance programs for fleet vehicles. This means that if you own a shop with a bunch of vehicles to keep track of, Bridgestone can help keep your operations running.
• ContinentalContinental has a roadside assistance option as well, known as its Total Confidence Plan. This service is available to all tire owners — not just fleet operators — and includes flat tire replacement, road hazard coverage that can replace damaged tires, emergency trip interruption, and a bunch more.
• MichelinGiven its status as one of the biggest (if not the biggest) tire manufacturers in the world, Michelin has a super competitive assistance plan known as the Michelin Promise Plan. Its roadside assistance coverage includes flat tire changes, fluid delivery, lockout service, and battery jump starts. Best yet, this coverage is available for up to 3 years after your purchase.