Preparing Your Vehicle for the Road Ahead.

Tires and Brakes. The Non-Negotiables.

Before any long trip — whether it's up the 400 corridor to cottage country, a Muskoka run for the long weekend, or a winter drive to the ski hills near Collingwood — tires and brakes are where you start. They're the two systems that keep you safe at highway speed, and they're the two most likely to cause a serious problem if they're marginal.

Tires need adequate tread depth, correct pressure, and no visible damage. Tread depth matters most in wet and winter conditions — if you're at 4/32" or less, you're pushing it for a highway trip, especially if rain is in the forecast. Check your spare too. A flat spare in the trunk is worse than no spare at all, because you'll waste time discovering it when you need it most.

Brakes should feel firm and responsive with no pulling, pulsation, or noise. If you've been noticing any warning signs — even minor ones — get them checked before loading up the vehicle. Highway driving with a loaded vehicle puts more demand on brakes than your daily commute around Stayner or Creemore. What's marginal in town can become a problem at 120 km/h with a full vehicle.

The things that keep you safe deserve attention before the trip, not during it.

Lights, Battery, Wipers — The Easy Wins.

A dead battery is the most common cause of roadside breakdowns, and it almost always gives warning signs beforehand. Slow cranking, dimming headlights, or a battery that's more than four years old — these are all reasons to get it tested before heading out. A battery test takes minutes, and we'll tell you exactly how much life is left. Simcoe County winters are brutal on batteries, and a marginal one will pick the worst possible moment to quit.

Walk around your vehicle and check every light. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights. A burned-out brake light is an easy fix in the driveway. On a dark highway, it's the reason the car behind you doesn't know you're stopping. If you're heading up for a winter trip, make sure your headlights are properly aimed and not yellowed or hazy — reduced light output makes a real difference on unlit rural roads.

Wipers are another item that gets ignored until you need them. If they're streaking, chattering, or leaving gaps, replace them before the trip. Ontario weather changes fast, and the stretch between Wasaga Beach and Barrie can go from clear to a downpour in minutes. Good wipers and a full washer fluid reservoir are cheap insurance.

The simple stuff prevents most breakdowns.