Road-Trip Ready Tires and Checklist

What's in this Blog:

The best types of tires for road trips
How to make sure your tires are safe for a long drive
How to check tire tread depth before a road trip
How to check your tire pressure before a road trip
What makes the Centurion H/T the best Light Truck/CUV/SUV tire for road trips
What makes the DST2 the best Passenger/CUV/SUV tire for road trips
The Essential Summer Road Trip Checklist

With the fuel prices this summer drastically affecting airplane ticket prices, more people are choosing driving instead of flying for their summer adventures, whether to beaches, festivals, or college campuses, or exploring the US on long road trips. With safety in mind, drivers want to know how to best prepare their vehicles and their tires to last the duration of the trip, and prevent tire blowouts or accidents on the road. Here are some tips on how to prepare your vehicle and your tires for long summer road trips.

The Best Types of Tires for Long Summer Road Trips

When drivers are looking for tires that will perform well on summer road trips, they are usually looking for a combination of comfort, performance, and fuel-economy. The best tires for long drives like these are built to provide a stable, low-noise ride, reduce rolling resistance for better gas mileage, and most importantly, provide good traction and handling on both dry, hot roads, and combat hydroplaning and maintain driving control through summer rainstorms on wet surfaces. The tires types that almost perfectly fit those requirements are Highway-Terrain tires, often called Highway or H/T tires, and Touring tires, also called Grand Touring or GT tires.

Highway-Terrain Tires

Highway-Terrain tires are the ideal light truck and CUV/SUV tires for road trips because they are designed especially for highway and long-distance driving. A well-designed H/T tire provides traction, stability, and good handling on dry pavement, as well as features to resist hydroplaning and maintain traction on wet roads. Highway tires typically have smoother tread patterns, which reduce rolling resistance (the friction the tire encounters against the road, which requires more engine power and fuel to roll against), and ultimately reduce gas mileage. Tires with lower rolling resistance also have reduced friction heat build-up and tread wear, which makes for a longer-lasting tire.

Touring Tires

Touring tires are the best road-trip tire choice for passenger and CUV/SUV vehicles, because they combine wet and dry traction, low rolling resistance tread designs, and comfort-forward features that reduce road noise and provide a smoother ride. They are designed especially to wear down slowly over long-distance driving, and many Touring tires also include All-Season features, such as the Mud + Snow Rating for improved traction in moderate snow and mud.

Summer road-trippers will most likely not encounter snow, however tires with enhanced traction features like those with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake or Mud + Snow Rating can also provide increased driving confidence in rain and mud that may occur because of summer rainstorms. For tires that can provide this extra traction, look for an H/T or an All-Season Touring tire with the M+S symbol stamped on the sidewall, showing that it is Mud + Snow Rated, or the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, showing that it is rated for traction even in severe snow conditions.

How to Make Sure Your Tires are Safe Before a Long Road Trip

Before leaving for a road trip, it’s extremely important to make sure your tires are safe to drive on. Here are some things to check before you head out on the road to determine if your tire is safe, or if you should invest in new tires for a safe and worry-free trip.

Make sure your tires are not too old. Check the DOT number on the tire sidewall, and make sure it’s no more than 5 years past the date listed there. The DOT number is a series of 10-13 numbers stamped on the sidewall of the tire. Look for the last 4 digits, which tell you the week of the year (from the first to the 52nd), and the year the tire was manufactured. For example, a DOT number with the last four digits of 1520 means that the tire was manufactured in the 15th week of the year 2020.
Check that your tread depth is no less than 3/32nds of an inch. Use a quality tread depth gauge, or if you don’t have one, you can use a penny! Learn how to do this further along in this blog.
Check your tire pressure when your tires are “cool” (hasn’t been driven on for several hours) to ensure a correct pressure reading. Add or release air from the tire based on the manufacturer’s recommendations, keeping in mind extra vehicle weight from campers, trailers, or other weight. Find out how to figure out the correct tire air pressure in the following sections of this blog.
Visually inspect your tires for signs of wear or damage, such as embedded objects, sidewall splitting, cracking, or other types of wear that could indicate tire deterioration.
Check for irregular tire wear, such as tread that is worn down more on one section of your tire than on another, or in particular patterns, such as diagonal lines across the tire tread. If you see irregular wear, it may be a tire pressure or alignment problem, and it’s a good idea to check with an auto repair shop to diagnose and fix the issue.
Make sure to check that your spare tire is also in good condition, without cracks or splits in the rubber.

How to Check Your Tire Tread Depth Before a Road Trip

A tire’s tread depth directly impacts its traction, braking, and handling performance, especially at higher speeds or on wet surfaces. It’s critical to check that your tires have enough tread before driving long distances. In the US, tire tread is measured in 32nds of an inch, and legally tires must have 2/32nds of an inch of tread to be considered safe for driving. However for safety, you really want a depth of 4/32nds to 6/32nds of an inch of tread for traction and handling, especially for good control on wet roads and in rain.
If you’re not sure how to check your tire tread depth, here are two easy step-by-step guides.

How to Check Tire Tread Depth with a Tread Depth Gauge

Start with the gauge at 0/32nds” by placing it on a flat surface, and pressing so that the measuring pin is fully inside the outer tube.
Insert the gauge into the tread groove. Hold the base of the gauge firmly against the tread of the tire.
Carefully remove the gauge, making sure not to move it, which will alter the reading. Check the tread depth reading on the gauge.
Do this at several points around the circumference of the tire to make sure the reading is consistent, and to make sure there is no irregular wear.

How to Check Tire Tread Depth with a Penny or Quarter

While it’s not as accurate as using a tire tread gauge, in a pinch you can use a penny to check if your tire has more than 2/32nds of an inch of tread left, or a quarter to check if it has 4/32nds of an inch or more of tread left.
To use a penny to check tire tread depth, hold the penny so that Lincoln’s head is upside down. Insert the upside-down penny into the tread groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tire only has 2/32nds of an inch of tread left (or less). In this case, getting new tires would be essential before taking a long drive or road trip.
To use a quarter to check tire tread depth, hold the quarter so that Washington’s head is upside down, and insert the quarter into the tread groove. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, your tread depth is 4/32nds of an inch or less. If this is the case, check with a tread depth gauge to make sure it’s 2/32nds” or more to ensure that your tires are legal and safe to be driven on. You may want to replace your tires ahead of a long road trip if they have less than 4/32nds” to be confident that you’ll have safe traction, handling and braking performance in both dry and wet weather.

Checking Your Tire Pressure Before a Road Trip

Tire pressure affects your tire’s performance in many ways, including how quickly it wears, its braking and handling performance and responsiveness, and gas mileage, just to name a few.
Since the temperature directly affects the air pressure inside the tire, it’s important to know the correct air pressure for your tires and vehicle, and how to make sure you’re measuring it correctly. Check your vehicle’s maintenance manual, or the sticker on your car inside the panel of the drivers-side door, which will tell you the recommended tire pressure (PSI) for your tires.

Hot weather or driving on the tire will increase the temperature of the air inside the tire, causing it to expand and tire pressure to increase, so make sure to check tire pressure in the morning when the tires are cool, before you’ve driven.
If you need to drive to a gas station or dealership to check the tire pressure, make sure the drive is no longer than 5 minutes or around 1 mile to keep the tires cool. If you have to drive longer than that, you can wait at the gas station or dealership for around 30 min for your tires to cool before measuring. Add, or release air according to your PSI reading, keeping in mind that carrying heavier loads may require higher air pressure (but don’t exceed the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall!).

Centurion H/T: The Best Choice for a Light Truck/CUV/SUV Road-Trip Tire

The Centurion H/T is specially designed for durability, comfort, and fuel economy, making it an ideal light truck and CUV/SUV tire for summer road trips, trips up the coast to find a new surfing spot, or a days’ drive to a festival. This H/T tire’s comfort-enhancing and fuel-saving features let you sit back and enjoy a smooth, quiet ride without worrying about fuel costs, so you can relax and enjoy the experience.

The Centurion H/T’s computer-optimized tread delivers stability, traction, and control on both dry and wet roads, and in winter conditions to keep you and your passengers safe on the drive. Center block bridging on the tread grooves give even better dry handling performance, and 3D sipes help maintain tire stiffness to enhance braking and handling on both wet and dry surfaces, and give even better traction on snow.

In summer rainstorms, the Centurion H/T protects against hydroplaning with circumferential tread grooves designed to quickly evacuate water from the tire grooves and maintain traction during rain and wet weather. The Centurion H/T features Delinte’s advanced CLIMAGRIP® Technology, which encompasses several multi-season features including the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Rating, and Mud + Snow Rating, which means many drivers can leave these tires on year-round and still feel confident in its performance.

Delinte backs up the Centurion H/T with their highest-yet mileage warranty of 60,000 Miles, plus Road Hazard Coverage. This combination of outstanding mileage and durability, excellent traction on dry, wet, and snowy roads, CLIMAGRIP™ Technology, and Delinte’s 60K Mileage and Road Hazard Coverage make the Centurion H/T one of the season’s best picks for a quality road-trip tire.

DST2: The Smart Passenger/CUV/SUV Tire for Summer Road Trips

Summer road trips that include highway driving, desert highways, and mountain roads need tires that can perform in all types of conditions, from dry, hot pavement to wet and muddy conditions. Delinte’s DST2 All-Season Touring CUV/SUV tire is more than ready for the challenge, with All-Season engineering and an intelligent tread design that increases fuel mileage, and reduces road noise for a low-stress, comfortable ride.

The DST2’s optimized design distributes tread grip, reduces rolling resistance, and optimizes tread wear, and 3D sipes ensure even contact with the road, improving performance and control in wet and dry conditions, and even snow. Wide, circumferential tread grooves evacuate water from the tire quickly, fighting against hydroplaning and increasing your handling and control on wet roads.
The DST2 is ready for road trips year-round, with its All-Season design, and the Mud + Snow Rating for good traction in mud and snow. For added confidence on the drive, this tire comes with a 55K Mileage Warranty and Road Hazard Coverage, making this a top All-Season touring tire for CUV/SUV drivers looking for adventure this summer.

The Essential Summer Road Trip Checklist

To keep your road trip as stress-free as possible, make sure you’re prepared ahead of time! Here are some things to check before heading out on the road:

Check your tire’s tread depth to make sure it’s at least 2/32nds of an inch deep, and ideally 4/32nds to 6/32nds deep.
Check your tire pressure and adjust if needed. Make sure to check tire pressure before tires have been driven on, or several hours after driving for more than a few minutes.
Check your vehicle’s fluid levels: Coolant, brake fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.
Take your vehicle to an auto repair shop or dealership for a safety inspection, including brake wear.
At the dealership or auto repair shop, ask for an engine air filter check, and replace if it is clogged or dirty.
Ask the dealership or auto repair professionals to check that the engine cooling system is functioning well and no components show signs of deterioration.
Check your tires closely for signs of puncture, such as a sharp object embedded in the tread or groove, cracking, bald spots, bulging, or irregular wear. If any of these are seen, replace the tire as soon as possible.
Check all headlights, brake lights, running lights, and high-beams to make sure they are all functional. Replace or repair any burnt-out lights.
Make sure all your windows and mirrors are clean.
Check the condition of your spare tire, and replace if needed.
Make sure you have a jack, lug wrench (tire iron), wheel chocks, a flashlight, and a blanket/mat in case you have to install your spare tire.
Check your air conditioning, if applicable, to make sure it doesn’t need repair or a recharge.
Restock emergency kit, water, non-perishable food or medications.
Program the number for AAA or your preferred roadside assistance company into your phone, and have your membership information available.

See Previous Related Blogs:

Delinte’s New Hi-Tech Centurion LT Series
How Do All-Season Tire Perform?

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Get Road-Trip Ready with Delinte’s Best Road Trip Tires and Summer Safety Checklist