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iStock, Union Photographers/Roger Mahler SUMMER 2017 BCA A .COM 33 MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save 10% and get a two-year warranty and free car wash with every service or repair at BCAA's Auto Service Centres in Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Nanaimo and South Surrey. bcaa.com/autoservice W ith people all over the province loading up their vehicles and hitting the road for sunny getaways, summer is BCAA's busy time for rescuing drivers with flat tires. If your plans don't include sitting on the side of the road waiting for help, or risking life and limb changing a tire yourself, consult the tips below. toolkit AUTOMOTIVE The Big Blowout How to avoid getting a flat tire this summer BY BENJAMIN YONG Maintain correct psi Besides benefits like optimum fuel economy, keeping a tire at its proper air pressure – instead of inflating too much or too little – is one of the best ways to prevent a flat, says Stu Miller, BCAA Senior Automotive Operations Manager. "What essentially happens when you inflate too much is the tire becomes a basketball," says Miller. Rubber stretched to the limit is more susceptible to picking up foreign objects, and to bursting. Steer clear of potholes Hitting one can cause a puncture, or worse. "Metal cords inside the tire can get damaged to the point where they break and bunch up, producing a bulge in the sidewall. In that scenario, the tire becomes unrepairable," says Miller. Avoid construction sites They're one of the most common places for vehicles to run over foreign objects, such as nails and broken glass. If you do wind up with something embedded in your tire, Miller recommends against further driving – otherwise the tire could become permanently compromised. A better idea is to throw on the spare and find a nearby shop. Rotate tires Regularly rotate your wheels and tires front to back so the tread wears evenly. "Most manufacturers recommend a rotation every 12,000 kilometres," says Miller. Beware of expiry Tires have a shelf life, which Miller says is usually around eight to 10 years after their date of manufacture. "As a tire goes through different types of weather, the rubber decomposes and it will actually start to crack." ■