Your Pre-Christmas Road Trip Car and Tyre Checklist

Hooray, the summer holidays are almost here! For lots of Melbourne families, that means one of the best parts of the year: a happy road trip. You might be cruising down the beautiful Great Ocean Road, relaxing on the lovely Mornington Peninsula, or driving to the country for a joyful Christmas lunch with family.

The great news is that getting your car holiday-ready is quick, easy and even a little fun. Each check takes just a few minutes, and each one adds more comfort, confidence and smiles to your trip. Here's our friendly road trip checklist for a safe, happy and wonderful summer.

1. Give Your Tyres a Happy Start

Your tyres love the right amount of air, especially with a car full of family, luggage and Christmas presents. You'll happily find the perfect figure on the tyre placard inside the driver's door frame. Many placards helpfully list a special figure for a fully loaded car, which is ideal for holiday trips. Check on a cool morning for the most accurate reading. Well-inflated tyres reward you with great grip, smooth handling and better fuel savings. Our friendly tyre pressure guide makes this wonderfully simple.

2. Enjoy Great Grip With Healthy Tread

Healthy tread keeps your car safe, steady and confident in any summer shower. Here's a fun, easy trick: press a 20-cent coin into the main tread groove. If you can see the tip of the platypus's nose, it's a perfect time for a friendly professional check. Australia's legal minimum is 1.5mm, and many technicians happily recommend fresh tyres at around 3mm for excellent wet-weather grip. A smooth, healthy sidewall with no cracks or bulges is another great sign. Our helpful guide to the signs you need to change your tyres makes every step clear.

3. Show Your Spare Tyre Some Love

Your spare tyre is a loyal little travel buddy that waits patiently in the boot. It deserves the same friendly check as your other four tyres. Keep your jack and wheel brace handy and easy to reach under the luggage. A ready spare gives you wonderful peace of mind on every lovely country road.

4. Enjoy a Smooth, Straight Drive

Long highway drives feel smooth, relaxed and truly enjoyable when your wheels are well aligned. If your car likes to drift to one side, a quick alignment puts a smile back on every drive. Great alignment protects your tyres, saves you fuel and makes every kilometre more enjoyable. Our friendly article on how to know your car needs a wheel alignment shares six easy signs.

5. Keep Your Engine Cool and Happy

A few quick, easy checks under the bonnet keep your engine purring beautifully all summer:

• Engine oil: A healthy oil level keeps your engine smooth, happy and efficient.

• Coolant: A full coolant reservoir keeps your engine comfortably cool on long, sunny drives.

• Windscreen washer fluid: A full bottle gives you a clear, bright view of every beautiful sight.

• Battery: A quick, friendly battery test gives you easy, happy starts every morning.

• Air conditioning: Fresh, cool air keeps every passenger comfortable, cheerful and relaxed.

6. Enjoy Clear Views and Confident Stops

Ask a helpful friend to stand behind the car while you test your brake lights, indicators and headlights. Fresh wiper blades give you a lovely, crystal-clear view in summer showers. A quick brake check gives you smooth, confident stopping for the whole wonderful trip.

7. Pack Smart and Plan Happy Stops

Place heavy items low in the boot and keep the rear window clear for a great view. Your car's load limit is a helpful friend, especially with a roof box, bike rack or caravan. A handy travel kit with water, tasty snacks, first aid supplies, a torch and a phone charger keeps everyone happy and well prepared. Up-to-date roadside assistance and a relaxing rest stop every two hours keep every driver fresh, alert and smiling.

Book Your Happy Pre-Holiday Check in Preston

The perfect time for a pre-trip check is one to two weeks before you leave.

The friendly team at Goodyear Autocare Preston would love to help. We happily offer free tyre health checks, wheel alignments, logbook servicing and a thorough 55-point vehicle inspection. We proudly stock a wide range of trusted tyre brands and fit most tyres the same day.

Ready for a wonderful summer on the road? Book your visit, give us a friendly call on (03) 9478 6688, or say hello to the Preston team. While you're here, browse our latest tyre specials for great savings. We'd love to help you start your summer holidays safely and happily. Merry Christmas, happy holidays and happy travels from all of us!