Back to all

Why a Trip Inspection Is a Good Idea

February 14, 2020

At Sterling Tire & Auto we get a lot of Sterling Heights drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around Michigan, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded.

Smart Sterling Heights drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Sterling Heights to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to Sterling Tire & Auto for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.

34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775

The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped off and you have fresh oil for the trip. And if your car has over 75,000 miles/120,000 km, you may consider putting in the high-mileage formulation to clean harmful sludge deposits in the engine. 

How about your transmission and brakes? Have you had your transmission and brakes inspected in the last six months?

How are your wiper blades? There's nothing like not being able to get rid of the bug juice on a long road trip away from Sterling Heights.

Check your owner's manual for any other recommended services, and have Sterling Tire & Auto in Sterling Heights do the multi-point inspection before you head out on your trip.

Consider also having the coolant system serviced at Sterling Tire & Auto – you want to stay within the vehicle manufacture’s recommendations. If you're towing a trailer around Michigan you'll want to be keep in mind that you'll be going a long way under severe conditions.

A lot of Sterling Heights drivers overlook severe conditions like towing, Michigan summer heat or driving on dirt roads. Plan ahead for your next road trip – Sterling Tire & Auto wants you to get there and back.

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto

A Most Important Part (Serpentine Belt Replacement)

December 7, 2025

Your vehicles engine is an engineering work of wonder with many complex parts working in harmony to get you down the road. One of those simple but important components is called a serpentine belt. It is driven by a pulley on the engine and transfers that power to many of your engines most importa... More

No Fueling Around (Fuel Filter Replacement)

November 30, 2025

A driver called in to the shop the other day saying his European sports sedan had an odd problem. He was driving when his car started to slow down. Applying more throttle didn't help. He pulled over to the side of the road, shut the engine off and waited a few minutes before starting it up aga... More

Giving CV Joints the Boot! (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)

November 23, 2025

Ever wonder how your vehicles transmission is connected to your wheels? After all, when you hit a pothole or some other uneven part of a roads surface, there has to be something that can maintain the connection between the transmission and the wheel yet keep everything moving at the same speed. ... More