Make sure your vehicle is prepared before you hit the road

By Bill Snow, Owner/Operator of Rad Air Wickliffe

Thanks to surpassed vaccination numbers and lowered restrictions, the green light is officially on for the Great American Road Trip.

Whether you’re exploring trails, beaches, parks or mountains, making sure your vehicle is well prepared is important.

Driving for long stretches, and on terrain your automobile is not accustomed to, can put a real strain on its engine, tires and brakes.

We recommend having a mechanic perform a thorough maintenance service before hitting the road, so you won’t risk being stranded in the middle of nowhere on the roadside. You should have your brakes, tires and fluid levels (oil, anti-freeze, etc.) professionally checked, no matter how old or new your car is.

Mountains are particularly stressful on brakes, which can heat up and even boil your brake fluid if it’s old or diminished. They take a toll on the transmission as well.

Another key maintenance consideration is the cabin air filter, which operates just like the furnace/air conditioning filter in your home. In heavy traffic and highways with lots of trucks, this filter ensures the air you breathe is clean and healthy.

Our cars take a lot of climate abuse, shifting quickly from cold winters to hot summers. If we do our best to take care of them, they’ll take great care of us in return.

Bill Snow grew up working on race cars and ran a shop while in college. After being in the corporate world for years, he decided to get back to the car industry and bought the local Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Center. It’s located at 29257 Anderson Road, in Wickliffe. Call 440-943-9666 or visit RadAir.com for more information.

Mention this story and take $25 off a maintenance service at Rad Air in Wickliffe, regularly $64.95. Offer good through Sunday, August 1, 2021.