Preparing Your Wheels for Summer Road Trips

Summer in South Africa means road trips—whether you're heading to the coast, visiting family, or exploring new destinations. Before loading up the car and hitting the road, taking time to prepare your wheels ensures safe, trouble-free travel.

Long-distance driving places extra demands on your wheels and tyres. The combination of sustained high speeds, heavy loads, and hot road surfaces creates conditions that can expose existing problems or accelerate wear. Proper preparation prevents breakdowns and keeps your holiday plans on track.

This guide covers essential wheel preparation for summer road trips, helping you identify issues before they become roadside emergencies.

Pre-Trip Wheel Inspection

A thorough wheel inspection before any long journey is essential. Catching problems at home is far better than discovering them hundreds of kilometres from help.

Visual Inspection

Start with a careful visual examination of each wheel:

Check for visible damage including cracks, dents, and kerb rash. Run your hand around the wheel rim feeling for irregularities that might not be immediately visible. Any cracks, no matter how small, require professional assessment before long-distance travel.

Examine the wheel surface for corrosion, peeling finish, or bubbling paint. These issues can indicate underlying problems and may worsen under road trip conditions.

Inspect wheel nuts ensuring all are present and appear properly seated. Missing or loose wheel nuts are serious safety hazards.

Look at the valve stems checking for cracks, deterioration, or damage. Faulty valve stems can cause slow leaks that become problematic over long distances.

Structural Integrity Check

Beyond visual inspection, assess structural integrity:

Check for wheel wobble by safely raising each wheel and spinning it. Wobbling indicates bent wheels or other issues requiring attention.

Listen for unusual sounds when spinning wheels. Grinding or clicking may indicate bearing problems that need addressing.

Feel for vibrations during normal driving. Vibrations often indicate wheel balance issues or structural problems.

Tyre Condition Assessment

Your tyres are the only contact between your vehicle and the road. Their condition directly affects safety and performance.

Tread Depth

Legal minimum tread depth in South Africa is 1mm, but for long-distance summer driving, more is better:

Measure tread depth using a tread depth gauge or the simple coin test. Insert a R5 coin into the tread—if you can see the outer ring, your tread is getting low.

Check tread wear patterns across the tyre width. Uneven wear indicates alignment or inflation problems that should be addressed before your trip.

Assess remaining tyre life realistically. If tyres are marginal now, they may not last a long road trip. Replacing them before departure is safer than risking failure en route.

Tyre Condition

Beyond tread depth, examine overall tyre condition:

Look for sidewall damage including cuts, bulges, and cracks. Sidewall damage can lead to sudden failure, especially under the stress of highway driving.

Check for embedded objects like nails or screws that might cause slow leaks.

Assess tyre age by checking the DOT code on the sidewall. Tyres older than five years may have degraded rubber even if tread looks adequate.

Examine for dry rot or cracking in the rubber, particularly if the vehicle has been parked for extended periods.

Tyre Pressure

Correct tyre pressure is crucial for safety, fuel efficiency, and tyre longevity:

Check pressures when cold before driving. Heat from driving increases pressure, giving inaccurate readings.

Refer to your vehicle's specifications found on the door jamb sticker or in the owner's manual. Don't use the maximum pressure shown on the tyre sidewall.

Adjust for load if you'll be carrying extra passengers and luggage. Many vehicles specify higher pressures for full loads.

Don't forget the spare which is often neglected until needed. Ensure it's properly inflated and in good condition.

Wheel Balance and Alignment

Proper balance and alignment become more important for long-distance driving.

Wheel Balance

Unbalanced wheels cause vibration that's uncomfortable and accelerates wear:

Notice any vibration particularly at highway speeds. Vibration through the steering wheel often indicates front wheel imbalance, while vibration felt through the seat suggests rear wheel issues.

Have wheels balanced if vibration is present or if it's been more than 10,000 kilometres since the last balance.

Balance after tyre rotation or any tyre work, as the balance can change.

Wheel Alignment

Proper alignment ensures even tyre wear and predictable handling:

Check for pulling where the vehicle drifts to one side on flat, straight roads.

Examine tyre wear patterns for signs of misalignment—excessive wear on inner or outer edges indicates alignment problems.

Get alignment checked if you've hit significant potholes or kerbs recently, or if it's been more than a year since the last check.

Addressing Existing Damage

If your inspection reveals damage, address it before your trip.

Minor Cosmetic Damage

Light kerb rash or surface scratches typically don't affect safety but may worsen:

Consider touch-up for minor scratches to prevent corrosion.

Monitor during the trip for any changes or worsening.

Structural Concerns

Any structural damage requires professional assessment:

Bent wheels may be repairable through professional straightening, but severity determines whether repair is safe.

Cracks generally require wheel replacement, though some can be safely welded by specialists.

Significant kerb damage affecting the wheel's structural integrity needs expert evaluation.

Professional Inspection

When in doubt, get professional assessment:

Wheel specialists can identify issues you might miss and advise on repair versus replacement.

Pre-trip inspections at reputable workshops provide peace of mind.

Don't delay if you suspect problems—better to know before departure than discover issues on the road.

Packing and Load Considerations

How you load your vehicle affects wheel and tyre performance.

Weight Distribution

Proper load distribution matters:

Distribute weight evenly across the vehicle. Concentrated weight in one area overloads those wheels and tyres.

Keep heavy items low in the boot to maintain vehicle stability.

Don't exceed load limits specified for your vehicle. Overloading stresses wheels, tyres, and suspension.

Roof Loads

If using roof racks:

Check weight limits for both the rack and your vehicle's roof.

Secure loads properly to prevent shifting that affects vehicle handling.

Consider aerodynamic effects that increase fuel consumption and stress on the vehicle.

Emergency Preparation

Despite best preparation, emergencies can happen. Be ready:

Spare Wheel Readiness

Ensure your spare is ready for use:

Check spare condition including tread depth and overall state.

Verify proper inflation at the pressure specified for your spare type.

Know your spare type—space-saver spares have speed and distance limitations.

Locate your jack and tools and ensure you know how to use them.

Emergency Kit

Carry appropriate emergency supplies:

Tyre repair kit for minor punctures if you're comfortable using one.

Reflective triangles required by law and essential for roadside safety.

Torch for inspections or repairs in low light.

Contact numbers for roadside assistance and your insurance.

During Your Trip

Wheel care continues throughout your journey:

Regular Checks

Check tyre pressures every few days or when temperatures change significantly.

Visual inspection each morning before driving, looking for obvious damage or deflation.

Monitor handling for any changes suggesting developing problems.

Driving Considerations

Avoid potholes where safely possible—they're a leading cause of wheel damage.

Reduce speed on rough roads to minimise impact stress on wheels.

Allow cooling time after sustained high-speed driving before parking in enclosed spaces.

Hot Weather Considerations

Summer heat affects tyres:

Hot roads increase tyre temperature which raises pressure. Don't release air from hot tyres—they'll be underinflated when cool.

Park in shade when possible to reduce heat stress on tyres.

Avoid driving on extremely hot surfaces during the hottest parts of the day if possible.

Post-Trip Inspection

After returning from your road trip:

Inspect wheels and tyres for any damage acquired during travel.

Check tyre pressures and adjust as needed.

Note any issues that developed for follow-up attention.

Schedule maintenance if problems were identified during the trip.

Conclusion

Preparing your wheels for summer road trips is an investment in safe, enjoyable travel. The time spent on inspection and maintenance before departure pays dividends in peace of mind and trouble-free journeys.

Don't let wheel problems derail your holiday plans. A thorough pre-trip check identifies issues while they're still manageable, and proper preparation ensures your wheels are ready for whatever the road brings.

For professional wheel inspection and repair before your summer travels, contact Speedline Mags. Our team can assess your wheels' condition and address any issues, ensuring you hit the road with confidence.

Learn more about wheel maintenance in our ultimate wheel care guide and understand signs your wheels need repair.