Spring Vehicle Maintenance Checklist

In general, it’s easy for people to skip vehicle maintenance during the winter months because they aren’t planning as many outings with the family or road-tripping adventures with friends. We tend to hibernate during the winter months and hit the open road once Spring comes around!

At Telle Tire, we wholeheartedly support your roadtrips and want to be part of the fun and safe travels by providing a spring vehicle maintenance checklist. This list will highlight the critical systems and parts that make your vehicle run smoothly!

Tires

Checking your tires is at the top of the list when it comes to making your vehicle road ready. Whether you’re loading up the camping gear or throwing your briefcase in the trunk, you need to make sure your tires are running in tip-top shape. 

Here’s a checklist of the maintenance your tires need to get you wherever you’re headed. And remember our Telle Tire experts are always here to help you maintain your tires!

Here’s the quick checklist version of what you’ll want to include in your tire maintenance:

  • Tire pressure
  • Tire tread
  • Tire rotation
  • Replace your spare

Tire pressure

One of the most important–and easiest–ways to kick start your spring vehicle maintenance checklist is to ensure your tire pressure is filled to the specifications indicated on your tires. Keep in mind that the best time to check tire pressure is when your vehicle has been sitting for 2-3 hours. The pressure in your tires builds as they heat up. 

Tire Tread

Your tire needs adequate tread depth to grip the road in front of you, regardless of the weather. In the spring, this is particularly important as rain showers and full-on thunderstorms can pop up out of nowhere. No need to slip and slide your way down the road, which is dangerous. We’re here to ensure your tires are road-ready. To learn more about how to decipher your vehicle’s tire wear patterns, check out our blog post on the topic.

Tire rotation

Rotating the placement of your tires is a great way to protect them from unnecessary wear and tear, as well as keep your vehicle running smoothly. There are several options we have when rotating your tires–we’ll assess what is best for your vehicle according to tread, alignment, wear. Your spring vehicle maintenance is a great time to consult our team or your owner’s manual to extend the life of your tires. 

Replace Your Spare

Replacing your spare tire is one of those things most people don’t think about until they are caught on the side of the road. Even though you don’t drive on your spare doesn’t mean it doesn’t age. Such conditions as temperature and air quality do contribute to the quality of the tire’s materials. In general, you can consult the manufacturer warranty on your spare tire to determine how long the tire is covered–once the warranty has expired, it’s best to replace it. 

Interior

Keeping the interior of your vehicle clean is more important than many people realize. It’s not only a matter of aesthetics, it’s also a matter of health. The interior of your vehicle collects dirt, clutter and harmful bacteria that can accumulate on your dashboard, steering wheel and upholstery. Here’s a checklist to help guide your interior maintenance:

  • Car detail
  • Wash floor mats
  • Remove salt buildup

Now that we’ve addressed your interior, let’s move on to the important aspects of exterior maintenance. 

Exterior

The exterior of your vehicle tends to go uncared for in the winter months, especially in the midwest! It’s hard to keep up between the ice, snow, and salt deposits that cling to your tires and paint. Here are some important services to consider for your spring vehicle maintenance: 

  • Car wash
  • Underbody wash
  • Check for new scratches or dents
  • Headlight and taillight maintenance

Not only are your headlights and taillights important when it comes to your safety, they’re also important to the safety of those around you on the road. We offer headlight replacements as part of our auto maintenance services.  

Under the Hood

Next on your spring vehicle maintenance checklist is everything you need to ensure your vehicle is road-ready under the hood.

  • Check fluids
  • Test/Replace battery
  • Schedule an oil change
  • Replace filters

Check out the difference between changing your oil yourself and why it’s sometimes best to have the professionals change your oil for you. 

Windshield

Your windshield is your window to the world. For that reason, you want to ensure the present and continued safety of your windshield using this checklist. You don’t want to get caught in a spring storm without working windshield wipers, or out on the backroads of the midwest during summer bug season!

  • Replace windshield wipers
  • Address any cracks or dings
  • Refill wiper fluid

We are prepared to help you ensure the safety of your windshield. 

AC System

If you’ve ever been caught during the warming spring or dead heat of summer without an operational AC you know it’s not ideal! Your spring vehicle maintenance visit is the perfect time to get prepared for the heat ahead. Here’s the AC system checklist:

  • Test AC inside the cabin
  • Check freon

We’ll check your air conditioning system for all the routine maintenance issues, as well as any issues that might be unique to your specific make and model. For a more detailed look, check our post on how AC systems work.

Visit Telle Tire For Spring Vehicle Maintenance

Our team is the best in the business and we love what we do! Contact us to let us knock out your spring vehicle maintenance checklist. We’ll make sure your tires, interior, exterior, under the hood, windshield, and AC system are optimized to keep you and your family safe, and protect the life of your vehicle.