Category: Resource

If you keep getting flat tires, you’ll want to solve the issue as soon as possible. Besides throwing a wrench in your plans for the day, flat tires can impact your vehicle’s handling and make it more likely you get into an accident. Driving on a flat tire can also cause further damage to the tire and bend or warp your rims. 

As you try to avoid flat tires in the future, take a moment to learn more about the main reasons why flat tires occur.

Why Do I Keep Getting Flat Tires? 5 Reasons for Flat Tires

From punctures and faulty valve stems to dry rot and aging, there are several common causes of flat tires. If your tire went flat for no reason you can think of, review the five most common causes of flat tires below:

1. Punctured Tires

The most obvious cause of a flat tire is a puncture. If you can see a nail or other object sticking into your tire, it needs to be repaired, or your tire will keep losing pressure. Usually, a punctured tire is pretty easy to spot, and if you do notice a puncture, you shouldn’t drive until you can have the tire repaired or replaced. Before you drive to a mechanic, make sure to swap out your punctured tire with a spare.

A mechanic can repair your tire if the puncture is 1/2 an inch away or more from the edge from the edge of the tire tread. However, punctures that are closer to the edge aren’t repairable, and the tire will need to be replaced. While you can’t always stop punctures from occurring, they’re more likely if you drive over potholes, on a road’s shoulder, or in areas without properly paved roads.

2. Old Tire Age

Over time, the rubber in a tire will degrade, even if you keep your tires in great condition. If your tire went flat for no reason and continues to go flat despite nothing looking wrong, chances are your tires have aged past the point of repair. The rubber degradation will cause your tires to crack and lose pressure, leading to constant flats. Since these cracks can be hard to spot, you’ll often need a professional to check if degraded rubber is at fault.

At maximum, a tire might make it to 10 years old, but most tires need to be replaced after the five-year mark. When your tires are old and you keep getting flats, you’ll likely need to replace your tires with a new set.

3. Faulty Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Your vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors tire pressure and should alert you if the pressure is too low via a light on your dashboard. However, a faulty or damaged TMPS may not detect low pressure in your tires, causing you to drive on tires despite them not having enough pressure. Driving on tires without enough pressure can damage rims and sidewalls, reduce your vehicle’s handling, hurt your gas mileage, and cause your tire tread to wear down faster.

If your tire is flat but your TMPS isn’t alerting you to it, you can be fairly certain the TPMS needs to be fixed. You might also manually check your tire pressure with a pressure gauge if you suspect your TPMS is inaccurate. Since fixing a TPMS isn’t very DIY friendly, you’ll want to bring your car into a repair shop for help.

4. Dry Rot

Dry occurs when a tire is exposed to unfavorable conditions for too long, such as extreme temperatures, too much direct sunlight, or being parked in one place for too long. Low tire pressure and exposure to harmful chemicals can also cause dry rot. If your tire is affected by dry rot, the rubber will be more brittle, causing cracks and even damage to your sidewall.

Since dry rot isn’t repairable, you’ll need to have a mechanic replace your tires if they find that dry rot is affecting your tire. If you want to prevent dry rot from causing a flat, try to avoid the main causes of dry rot described above.

5. Damaged Valve Stem

A tire’s valve stem helps to regulate air pressure, with the core of the stem allowing air to pass in and out while the stem’s cap stops debris from getting in the core. Damage to your valve stem can occur for multiple reasons, such as road salt, age, moisture, UV rays, and heat. When the issue isn’t fixed, your tire will leak and constantly lose pressure, leading to a flat tire. 

If a valve stem breaks, it’ll need to be replaced. A mechanic should be able to perform the replacement fairly quickly, solving the leak and any tire pressure issues caused by it.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Flat Tire Repair and Replacement Services in Raleigh

When you’re looking for tire repair services in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding NC Triangle, Chapel Hill Tire has you covered. Our team regularly inspects and repairs flat tires, keeping you informed every step of the way. If you end up needing to replace your tires after a flat, our team can recommend options, and you can use our tire finder tool to compare different tires. You’ll also want to check out our coupons to see how much you can save on our services!Learn more about our flat tire repair services today. If you need a new set of tires or a flat tire repair, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area.

If you live in the mountainous areas of North Carolina or plan to spend time up in the mountains over the winter, you should know how to drive safely in snowy or icy conditions. Since winter conditions can make it more difficult to take turns, ascend or descend mountain roads, and see the road, it’s well worth it to take some extra time to prepare your car and review some mountain driving best practices before you hit the road. 

As you prepare for some winter mountain driving, take a moment to review our top four winter mountain driving tips.

1. Check Your Tire Tread

Before you hit the mountains, you need to make sure your tires are in good condition and have enough air. To start, you’ll want to check your tire tread to make sure it hasn’t worn down to an unsafe level. If your tread is below 2/32” in tread thickness, it’s considered unsafe, as the worn-down tread will make it more difficult for your tires to grip the road. 

Without enough grip, you’ll struggle to take turns and slow down, which can be even more dangerous while driving in the mountains during the winter. You can easily check the tread by putting a penny upside down between the tire’s tread grooves. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head while the penny is between the grooves, you’ll need to replace your tires.

2. Check Your Tire Pressure 

Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for safe weather driving. While it’s generally recommended to keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s suggested PSI—typically between 30 and 35 PSI— slightly lowering the pressure to ⅞ of the recommended level can enhance traction on snowy roads. However, it’s important to reinflate your tires to the correct PSI once road conditions improve to maintain fuel efficiency, tire longevity, and proper vehicle handling. To ensure you’re prepared for winter weather, regularly check your tire pressure as cold temperatures can cause it to drip by 1-2 PSI for every 10-degree decrease. 

3. Consider Investing in Winter Tires

If you regularly drive through the mountains in an area that gets lots of snow, you should consider investing in winter tires (also called snow tires). Unlike other types of tires, winter tires are specifically designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles in snow and other wintry conditions.

Compared to all-season and summer tires, snow tires have a deeper tread depth and a different tread pattern to improve traction. They’re also constructed out of rubber that’s more flexible and designed to stay soft in cold weather, increasing durability and traction. Typically, snow tires are best if you plan to do a lot of winter driving in snowy or icy conditions. If you live in an area with heavy snow, you might want to consider studded snow tires for even more traction. 

4. Follow a Few Winter Mountain Driving Best Practices 

Whether you have winter tires or standard all-season tires, there are a few winter mountain driving best practices you should follow on the road. As you prepare to drive in wintry conditions during the winter, take a moment to review the following five winter mountain driving tips:

• Don’t be afraid to use your horn: If you’re taking a corner and winter conditions are affecting your visibility, blow your horn to alert other drivers. Doing so can help other drivers know where you are, and they might use their horns back or flash their lights to make themselves more visible to you.
• Avoid aggressive driving: In normal conditions, passing other vehicles on a turn or speeding up to get around another vehicle is fairly safe. However, this sort of aggressive driving raises your risk of losing control of your vehicle or having an accident in the winter. This advice doubly goes if the winter conditions are making it difficult to see far down the road.
• Slow down: Even if other drivers are driving fast on icy or snowy roads, you don’t want to give in to peer pressure. Your safety and the safety of other drivers are far more important than getting to your destination a few minutes faster. Make sure to drive slowly on icy roads and around turns, and if you’re worried about visibility, turn on your hazard lights. When you accelerate or slow down, do so slowly as well, as fast acceleration or deceleration could send your car into a tailspin.
• Be prepared for black ice: Since black ice is a thin layer of ice that can blend into the pavement, it can be hard to see and quite dangerous. When you can see it, take your foot off the gas or brakes while keeping your wheels straight until you’re over the ice. However, if you hit hidden black ice and start to fishtail, turn your steering wheel in the direction the spin is going until you regain traction or have come to a stop, as trying to fight the spin will only make it worse. 
• Keep your car off cruise control: While cruise control is very convenient, it also reduces your control over your car. Due to the threat of black ice and other wintry conditions that can affect your vehicle, you should have full control over your vehicle at all times while driving in snowy conditions. Cruise control can take your mind off the road and make your reaction time slower, so it’s not recommended for winter mountain driving.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire Winter Vehicle Maintenance in the Triangle

If you’re looking for vehicle repair services or a new set of winter tires in Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding Triangle area, turn to Chapel Hill Tire. With our tire finder tool, you can quickly find a new set of winter tires for mountain driving, and our team will be happy to walk you through your options. We can also replace your tires for you, inspect your vehicle to ensure it’s ready for wintry conditions, and perform any repair or maintenance services your vehicle might need.Learn more about our vehicle inspection and repair services today. If you need a new set of winter tires or any maintenance services, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save!

Winter driving comes with its own set of challenges, such as snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Municipalities often rely on salt and other deicing products to keep roads safe. While these materials are critical for reducing accidents, they can wreak havoc on your car if not cleaned off promptly. As you try to decide whether you should take the time to wash your vehicle this winter, find out why road salt can be so damaging and how to clean it off your car.

4 Reasons to Wash Salt and Deicing Products off Your Vehicle During the Winter

When salt and deicing products aren’t quickly removed from your vehicle, they can cause several issues, such as rust and damaged paint. Learn more about the four main negative effects that salt and deicing products can cause for vehicles below:

1. Road Salt Can Accelerate Rust Formation

The biggest threat road salt poses to your car is corrosion, as road salt can cause and speed up rust formation. When a vehicle drives over road salt, water from precipitation will get on your vehicle’s metal parts. Next, the road salt’s free-floating ions will mix with the water on these parts, with the ions causing iron oxide to form faster. After iron oxide forms, a layer of rust will appear on your car’s metal parts and begin to corrode them. 

Since ions speed up the formation of rust, key parts of your vehicle are more at risk of damage. For example, brake lines, exhaust systems, suspension components, bare metal fasteners, and undercarriages can all rust over. If left unchecked, rust will weaken these parts, making it more likely they’ll break down early and need costly repairs. Like road salt, chemical deicers are also corrosive and can have the same effects on your vehicle.

2. Road Salt and Deicing Chemicals Can Harm Your Paint

While the interaction of road salt and water can reduce your vehicle’s safety and cause parts to break down faster, road salt and chemical deicers can also hurt your vehicle’s appearance. If your city just uses road salt, the salt can stick to your car’s paint and cause oxidation. When this salt isn’t cleared off, the oxidation can cause your paint to break down and parts of it to rust. 

Your vehicle’s paint is even more at risk in areas that use deicing chemicals on their roads. Modern deicers often include chemicals like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, which can be even more aggressive than salt. These chemicals can potentially erode your car’s clear coat and paint, leading to expensive repairs.

3. Removing Salt and Deicing Products Makes Your Vehicle Safer

Alongside hurting your paint and making it more likely you need repairs, road salt and deicing chemicals can reduce your vehicle’s safety. For example, corroded brake lines, weakened suspension components, or a rusted-out undercarriage can lead to mechanical failures while you’re driving. Additionally, if rust has formed on structural components meant to protect you, an impact from another vehicle during an accident will do more damage to these components, raising your risk of serious injury.

4. Road Salt and Deicing Chemicals Can Hurt Your Vehicle’s Resale Value

When people are on the market for a car, most won’t pay top dollar for a vehicle that has lots of rust and paint damage. They also won’t want to pay much for a vehicle with an extensive repair history due to rust and corrosion. 

If you plan to sell your vehicle in the future or simply want to protect your investment, you’ll want to avoid having road salt and deicing chemicals on your car for too long. Since car wash and detailing services can help vehicles retain higher resale values, investing in these services can pay off in the long run.

How Often Should You Wash Your Vehicles During the Winter?

In general, if salt or deicing products are on the road regularly through the winter, you should wash your vehicle every 10 days (if not more frequently). Keep in mind that just rinsing your vehicle won’t remove road salt or chemical deicer residue, and spraying water on your vehicle in freezing conditions can lead to rust. As a result, your vehicle will need a full car wash. 

If it’s projected to snow in the Raleigh-Durham area and deicing chemicals and road salt are on the road, there’s a good chance they’ll wash away before the week is up due to the Triangle’s fairly mild winters. In this case, bring your car in for a car wash as soon as you’ve noticed the road salt is gone from the road. Since you won’t be picking up more road salt while driving, getting it off your vehicle should be your priority, as it will better protect your vehicle from rust.

While you can wash the road salt off yourself, a professional car wash can ensure all the road salt and deicing chemicals are completely removed. Plus, it’s much more convenient than trying to wash your car (particularly its undercarriage!) in freezing temperatures on your own. 

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Mobile Detailing Services in the Triangle

If it’s snowed recently in the Triangle and you need help removing snow or deicing products from your vehicle, Chapel Hill Tire can help. We offer mobile detailing services in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding Triangle area. One of our technicians can drive to your vehicle and thoroughly wash your car, removing any deicing chemicals and road salt.

Learn more about our mobile detailing and other car washing services today. If you’re ready to receive our detailing services, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save!

With nearly 11,000 tire-related accidents occurring each year, drivers have to be more vigilant about monitoring the condition of their tires and maintaining them. One of the best ways to keep your tires in good condition is by preventing tire dry rot from occurring. When left unchecked, tire dry rot can increase your risk of a tire blowout and threaten your safety while you’re out on the road. If you want to protect yourself and other drivers, take a moment to learn how to prevent tire dry rot.

What Is Tire Dry Rot?

Also called sidewall weathering, tire dry rot occurs when the rubber of your tire begins to degrade. As the rubber degrades, cracks will form in the sidewall and tread, the tire’s color will fade, and your tire may struggle to maintain the correct amount of pressure. Since tire dry rot makes it easier for holes to develop in a tire and raises the risk of a blowout, you shouldn’t drive on any tires that are showing signs of dry rot damage. 

How to Prevent Tire Dry Rot

Whether you want to know how to prevent trailer tires from dry rotting or just protect your car’s four tires, you can do so by following a few simple tips. As you try to stop tire dry rot from destroying your tires prematurely, review our top five tips for preventing tire dry rot below:

1. Pay Attention to Your Tires’ PSI

One of the simplest ways to prevent dry rot is to keep your tires properly inflated. If your tire doesn’t have enough pressure, it will create more heat and friction while you drive. This heat and friction can make your tread more brittle and cause cracking. 

While many drivers put off refilling their tires until the tire pressure symbol pops up on their dashboard, you should be more proactive to prevent dry rot. Regularly check your tires to catch issues before your sensors do, and if your inspection shows that the tire’s PSI is under its optimal pressure, refill them as soon as possible.

2. Don’t Expose Your Tires to Direct Sunlight

If you regularly park your car directly in sunlight, the heat from the sun can hurt your tire’s rubber and cause the sidewall to break down prematurely. To prevent the sun from hurting your tires, you can use tire covers to stop the sun’s rays from reaching them. In general, however, keeping your vehicle in an indoor garage is the best way to protect your tires from the sun and other elements, but if you don’t have a garage, tire covers are your next best option.

3. Avoiding Corrosive Chemicals When Cleaning

When you’re cleaning your vehicle’s tires, avoid using cleaning supplies with corrosive chemicals. While these chemicals might make cleaning a bit easier, they can cause your tires’ rubber to degrade faster. Regardless of the cleaner you use, make sure it isn’t petroleum-based, as it can harm your tire’s anti-weathering defenses and speed up dry rot.

Since chemical-based cleaners can damage tires, water-based solutions tend to be the best choice. Try to clean your car’s tires at least once a month with your water-based cleaner, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how to properly apply the cleaner. 

Does Tire Shine Prevent Dry Rot?

After you clean your vehicle, you might consider putting a tire dressing on it to enhance its appearance. While some tire shines can prevent dry rot, many are solvent-based. When a solvent-based tire dressing is applied to a tire, it can make the sidewall dry out, leading to cracks and tire rot.  

Since solvent-based tire dressings can actually cause tire rot, the best tire dressing to prevent dry rot will be water-based. A water-based tire dressing with UV protection should protect your tires from the sun and your sidewalls from cracks, fading, and hardening. 

4. Don’t Leave Your Car Stationary for Too Long

Even if you park your vehicle indoors or out of the sun, you shouldn’t let it sit in the same place over extended periods. When a car sits in the same position for too long, the portion of its tires that are touching the ground can become rigid, and the weight of the vehicle can cause the tires to deflate. 

Since both of these issues can lead to tire rot, you’ll want to repark your vehicle every week to make sure one section of the tire doesn’t bear the brunt of your vehicle’s weight for months. If you really don’t ever drive your vehicle, you can also use a jack stand to lift your vehicle off the ground. Doing so redistributes the vehicle’s weight to the jack stand rather than the wheels.

5. Pay Attention to Your Tires’ Age, Load Capacity, and Routine Maintenance

Over time, all tires degrade and will need to be replaced. Even if you follow the other tips on this list, an older tire may still start to show signs of tire dry rot. Typically, tires need to be replaced every six to ten years, so checking the manufacturing date on the tire can help you know when your tire is more at risk of tire rot. If your tires are past the six-year mark, you’ll likely need to replace them. 

Besides paying attention to the age of your tires, you should look at their load capacity. If you exceed your tires’ load limit by overloading your vehicle or transporting something heavy, the tires are more likely to degrade faster and experience dry rot. In addition to checking the tires, having your tires inspected and rotated annually can help you stop dry rot from beginning prematurely.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Tire Replacement Services in the NC Triangle

If your tires have dry rotted and you need tire replacement services in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or the surrounding Triangle area, Chapel Hill Tire can help. When you suspect dry rot is affecting your tires, our mechanics can inspect them and provide a diagnosis. If possible, we’ll repair the tire, but if it can’t be fixed, our tire finder tool makes finding a new set of tires easy. We can also help you pick the right tires for your needs and replace your old tires with them. 

Learn more about our tire repair and replacement services today. If you’re ready to bring your vehicle in, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save. 

If your vehicle was impacted by a flood, you should take action quickly to stop problems from getting worse and protect your vehicle from more expensive damage. By knowing the main problems flooded cars can have and what to do once your vehicle is safe to reach, you can reduce the chance your vehicle ends up totaled or needs additional repairs.

10 Common Problems With Flooded Cars

Flood-damaged cars often suffer from a few issues ranging from unusual smells to a damaged engine. If your vehicle has been affected by flooding, review some of the most common problems with flooded cars below:

• Stained and discolored interior due to water damage
• Musty or moldy smells
• Rust
• Fogging or moisture beads in the exterior or interior lights
• Stranges noises from the steering wheel or brakes
• Sand, mud, debris, or dirt in hard-to-clean areas 
• Engine damage
• Electrical system and electronic damage
• Transmission issues
• Exhaust system damage

What to Do If Your Car Got Flooded: 7 Steps to Follow After Your Vehicle Was Affected by a Flood

Since a flooded vehicle can cause several problems, it’s essential you know what to do if your car is flooded. Below, you can find a breakdown of the main steps to follow to prevent additional damage and have your car running at its best:

1. Don’t Put Yourself in Harm’s Way to Access Your Vehicle

If your vehicle is still in flood water, do not attempt to reach it. Even ankle-deep water could knock you off your feet if the current is moving fast enough. It’s also not safe to wade out to your vehicle in knee-deep, still water. Wait until someone can safely tow your vehicle out of the water or the flood water has drained away before you begin the clean-up and repair process.

2. Disconnect the Battery, and Don’t Turn the Vehicle On

Even if your vehicle has been towed out of flood water, don’t attempt to turn it on. If you do, water could be in the cylinders, and this water could damage your engine if you try to turn it on. 

While wearing dry gloves, you should disconnect the vehicle’s battery to prevent additional damage to the car’s electrical system. Since many parts of your vehicle will have a consistent current of power being sent to them, disconnecting your battery stops the electrical current from mixing with water. If you anticipate flooding, it’s best practice to disconnect the battery to prevent electrical damage from occurring in the first place.

3. Look for a Waterline in Your Vehicle and Document Damage

After disconnecting the battery, look for a waterline on your car’s interior and exterior to see how deep your vehicle was submerged in water. A waterline below the top of your doors is a good sign that only minimal damage occurred. However, a waterline above the dashboard will likely indicate that your vehicle is totaled. You can also check the headlights, taillights, engine bay, and trunk for damage.

While you check your vehicle, take photos and videos of your car with the waterline included to send to your insurance company. You should also have a list of all the parts of your vehicle impacted by flooding.

4. Contact Your Insurance Company

Depending on your insurance plan, your insurance company may cover flood damage to your vehicle. Regardless, you should contact your insurance agent, review your policy’s insurance coverage, and schedule an assessment of your vehicle with your agent. Make sure you maintain copies of any relevant documents, pictures, records, or communications during this process to assist with your claim.

5. Remove Water From the Vehicle’s Interior

If the waterline is below the dashboard and your vehicle isn’t totaled, you’ll want to remove the water in your vehicle as fast as possible. Excess moisture and standing water in your vehicle can cause mold growth in your interior and corrode important parts of your car. 

Begin by removing standing water with a wet vac, and use towels to soak up any moisture on your floors or seats. Next, you can use a dehumidifier or fan to dry out the vehicle. You can also take any removable cushions, seats, or floor mats out of your vehicle to help them dry faster. Additionally, leave your windows open to let the vehicle air out.

6. Drain Transmission and Engine Oil

Even when the waterline is below your engine, you should still drain your transmission oil, engine oil, and differential fluids as water could be in them. Next, you or a mechanic can refill the oils and fluids.

7. Receive a Professional Assessment and Inspection

After you discuss the next steps with your insurance company, they may send someone to assess your vehicle and determine if it’s totaled. This assessor will calculate the potential cost of odor removal, cleaning, and mechanical and electrical repairs.

If the assessor determines your vehicle isn’t totaled, you still shouldn’t try to start it. Before you do, have a mechanic inspect your vehicle, test electric components, and perform any needed repairs. If you’re not comfortable draining your engine oil or any of the other steps on this list, the mechanic can do so for you. 

You may also want to schedule a professional interior and exterior detailing appointment at the mechanic’s shop. During this appointment, they’ll remove any cosmetic damage to your vehicle’s interior and exterior. They can also thoroughly clean the interior of your vehicle to eliminate any bad odors, stop mold growth, and prevent corrosion. 

Frequently Asked Flooded Car Questions

If you still have questions about what to do after your car is flooded, review our answers to some of the most frequently asked flooded car questions below:

Will Insurance Cover Flooded Cars?

Insurance may or may not cover damage to a flooded car. You’ll want to review your insurance policy to see if it includes coverage for flood damage. 

Are Flooded Cars Fixable?

The amount of flooding will typically determine whether a flooded car is fixable or not. For example, those with a waterline above the dashboard tend not to be fixable, while those with a waterline under the doors are usually repairable.

Will Flooded Cars Have a Shorter Lifespan?

If your vehicle doesn’t receive a thorough inspection and repair services after it’s been flooded, it will likely break down faster than it normally would. However, a properly repaired flooded vehicle can last as long as its normal lifespan.

Is a Car That’s Completely Underwater Repairable?

Typically, a fully submerged car will be totaled, but it may be possible to repair it. You can expect to need a lot of repairs and replacement parts if you want to try to fix a fully submerged vehicle. For instance, a mechanic will likely need to replace most of your electrical components, remove water from the engine, drain and then refill fluids, and fix any corrosion or rust. The repair process will usually be quite expensive and can take some time to finish.

How Should You Move a Flooded Vehicle?

Since you shouldn’t turn your vehicle on after it’s been flooded, you’ll need to hire a tow truck to move the flooded vehicle. A mechanic shop with towing services can help you safely move your vehicle and perform the steps listed previously to prevent additional damage. 

Turn to Chapel Hill Tire for Flooded Car Repairs in the NC Triangle

If you need help removing water from a flooded vehicle or repairs for a flood-damaged car in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, or the surrounding Triangle area, turn to Chapel Hill Tire. Our team can remove any water in your vehicle and perform detailing services to clean it. We can also inspect your vehicle for damage, test your electrical components, and provide any needed repair or replacement services. Before you bring your vehicle in for service, check our coupons to see how much you can save.

Learn more about our repair and detailing services today. If you need maintenance or repairs, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area.

If you’re someone who doesn’t drive very often, you might think that you don’t need to worry about performing any maintenance. After all, you’re not driving it, so what could go wrong? Unfortunately, a car that sits unused for weeks on end can develop several issues, such as a dead battery, a rodent infestation, deflated tires, and low fluid levels.

As you try to keep your car in great shape, check out our top 10 tips for maintaining your vehicle while it’s parked for a long period of time.

1. Start the Engine Regularly

Even if you don’t plan on driving, you should still start your car every week or two. Doing so can help keep the battery charged and prevent mechanical parts from seizing up.

2. Check Tire Pressure

When your vehicle sits in the same place over an extended period of time, your tires might deflate. The reason for this deflation is usually because the full weight of the vehicle has been sitting on one portion of your tires for too long. Those who drive regularly won’t have this issue, as the tires will be in a different position every time you park. The part of the tire touching the ground can also become rigid if left too long, leading to flat spots on your tire. 

Since a deflated tire can be dangerous to drive on, you’ll want to check the tire pressure monthly to prevent flat spots and ensure your tires are road-ready. You might also want to repark your vehicle every once in a while to ensure one section of the tire doesn’t have to take the full brunt of the vehicle’s weight for months on end.

3. Change the Oil

Automotive oil can break down over time, even if the car isn’t being driven. Regardless of how much you drive, you’ll want to stick to the manufacturer’s recommended oil change schedule to avoid engine issues. Most oil manufacturers recommend changing the oil every six months or every 3,000 miles, depending on which of them came first. Since you won’t be driving, you’ll need to change your oil every six months unless the manufacturer recommends a shorter or longer interval.

4. Keep the Battery Charged

If you don’t drive for long periods, your battery will probably be dead when you try to drive your vehicle again. Since vehicle batteries charge while you drive, leaving your vehicle stationary for weeks doesn’t give your battery a chance to recharge. 

To prevent your battery from draining while it’s not in use, consider using a smart trickle charger that will shut off after the battery is fully charged. You can also disconnect the battery to prevent it from completely draining if you plan not to drive for a long time.

5. Protect Your Tires from the Sun

Exposure to direct sunlight can cause tires to crack. If you’ve parked in an area where your tires get a lot of direct sunlight, the sun’s UV rays will break down your tires’ rubber compounds. Instead of parking in direct sunlight, try to park in a garage or somewhere with shade. You can also use a vehicle cover to shield your tires from UV damage.

6. Top Off Fluids

Over time, your vehicle’s essential fluids will evaporate or become contaminated. If you don’t top them off and they evaporate entirely, the empty tanks they’re stored in can begin to rust. When you’re not driving, take the time to top off your brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, transmission fluid, radiator fluid, and coolant at the recommended manufacturer intervals. 

7. Clean Your Car Inside and Out

Even when parked, dirt and debris can damage your car’s exterior and interior. Cleaning the interior of your car every couple of weeks can stop dust from building up and ensure you don’t have any foods hidden under seats that could attract pests. Additionally, regularly cleaning the interior helps protect your vehicle’s upholstery.

Alongside cleaning the interior, you’ll want to wash the exterior. If you’re parked outside, bird droppings, pollen, bugs, and tree sap can all harm your vehicle’s paint job. You can also apply wax to the vehicle’s exterior to better protect your paint from debris and UV rays. Typically, it’s a good idea to wash your vehicle’s exterior every couple of weeks to prevent damage to the paint.

8. Park in a Covered or Shaded Area

Rain, snow, and UV rays can all damage your vehicle’s exterior, especially when you’re parked in an area open to the elements. If possible, store your car in a garage or under a cover to protect it. You’ll also want to avoid parking under trees, as it raises the risk that tree sap and bird droppings get on your vehicle.

9. Drive It Occasionally

Like the recommendation to turn your vehicle on every one to two weeks, it’s best practice to drive your vehicle for 20-30 minutes every few weeks. By driving your car, you’ll keep all systems functioning properly, like the brakes and air conditioning, and you’ll circulate fluids throughout the engine. Driving occasionally also gives your battery time to recharge and prevents dead batteries.

10. Check for Pests

If your car is parked for a while, pests may try to make it their home. Whether it’s a family of rodents living in your trunk, ants eating food underneath your seats, or wasps that have built a hive under your hood, you don’t want to start driving and realize pests are scurrying about. Before you drive your vehicle, check for any signs of critters under the hood or inside the cabin.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Vehicle Repairs and Maintenance in the Triangle

If your car is having problems after you’ve not driven it for some time and you need a vehicle inspection in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding areas, Chapel Hill Tire can help. Our team of certified technicians can fully inspect your vehicle and pinpoint the source of any issue your vehicle is experiencing. Whether you need your tires refilled, a new battery, or a thorough cleaning, we’ll perform whatever service you need quickly and professionally. We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save!

Learn more about our automotive repair services today. If you need maintenance or repairs, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area.