Road trips can be a lot of fun because they allow you to see the sites at a relaxed pace. If you are planning a road trip and your car is older, you should make sure it is in good condition before you leave. Below are two things you should check so you can have a great trip.  

Check the Tires

If the tires on your car have not been changed or checked in a long time, now is the time to do this. First, make sure the tires are not bald in any areas. One way to do this is to place a nickel in the tread. If the tread covers the nickel, you are good to go. If only a small amount of the nickel is covered, then it is time for new tires. If your front tires do not have enough tread but your back tires do, you can have the tires rotated. The front tires do more work than the back tires, so they tend to go out faster. Ask a mechanic if this would be a good option for you. 

In many cases, it is best to replace all four tires at the same time. This may not be the case, however, if you are having problems with only one tire and all the other tires still have a lot of tread on them, it is okay to replace one tire. 

Change the Oil

If you have not changed the oil on your car lately, you should do this before you leave. Having dirty oil in a car can damage the engine. The main job of engine oil is to flow through the engine when you drive the car to provide lubrication. If the oil is too thick it cannot flow through the engine. This will cause the engine parts to rub against each other causing friction, which in turn causes damage. Old oil may also have dirt fragments in it. These fragments can cause damage to parts.

Getting the oil changed is not difficult and it will make your engine last much longer. You can hire a mechanic to do this or do it on your own at home if you have experience. If you do this, make sure you use the right type of oil, which you can find in the user's manual for your car.

Contact a local mechanic to learn more about tire repair and oil changes.