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It's summer, it's North Georgia, and it is predictably time for backyard barbecues, little league baseball, and scorching hot weather.  Summer can be great fun but the hot summer temperatures and sun-baked blacktop can have some negative effects on your car.  Take a look at these simple tips to keep your car running strong all summer long.

Your Battery - When it comes to modern cars, the battery is no longer just for cranking your engine and starting your car.  Unlike cars of old, new cars are essentially rolling computers lots of onboard electronics.  An older or corroded battery can produce an inconsistent electrical flow which can negatively affect all of those expensive electronics or worse, leave you stranded.   

Open your hood and check the date code on your battery.  It should be clearly labeled.   If it is more than three years old consider replacing it.  You cannot see an impending problem and a battery is a small price to pay to save expensive electronics from low-voltage or voltage spikes.   If you don't see a date code assume your battery is getting old.  Also, look at the terminals, where the wires attach to the battery and make sure there is no corrosion.  If you see any build-up, which is generally crusty and light green, have your local car care professional or parts store disconnect the battery and remove the corrosion.

Your Tires - Your tires are where the rubber hits the road, they say, and where the rubber hits the hot summer blacktop friction and heat transfer from the road can significantly reduce the life of your tire.  One of the easiest ways to prevent damage to your tires is to keep them properly inflated.  An underinflated tire creates more heat and friction, degrading and sometimes destroying the tire.  Check the manufacturer's spec on proper tire inflation for your car by looking on the inside of the driver's door jamb for the proper psi.   When you are inflating your tires, visually inspect them for cracks or fissures in the sidewall.  If you see anything but a nice, smooth sidewall take your car to a tire service facility immediately and have them make sure it is safe.

Your Air Conditioning -  Air conditioning has become an almost universal feature on every car made since Bill Clinton was in the White House.  While it is nice to have a cool, comfortable interior on hot summer days, the secondary function of your A/C is to keep moisture off your windows.  Most cars on the road use the A/C pump, which runs all the time, to dry the air and keep your windshield from fogging up.  This is a big safety feature considering the radical changes in temperature and humidity that typify Georgia summer mornings and evenings. 

Hot, hazy and humid is the order of the day during the long Georgia summer.  But with a little extra attention, you can keep your car coolin' down the road. Come by and see us at Buckhead Tire & Auto Repair for any of your summer tune-up needs.