If you think that changing a hubcap or inflating a tire is childs play, think again.
Improper installation may not only damage your car, but may also cause injuries to yourself and others.
Consider some of these safety pointers from approved automotive repair specialists Ed Kriston and Jeff Boone, who work out of the Towson office of AAA Mid-Atlantic, which is headquartered in Wilmington, Del.
» Do not replace your own hubcaps. It looks like a simple task, but it isn’t. If a hubcap comes off when the car is moving, it becomes a flying disk that could strike and injure someone.
Even if you buy inexpensive hubcaps, go to a tire shop and ask a technician to install them.
» Do pack a large, flathead screwdriver in your car. You can use it to pry off most hubcaps if they become damaged when driving. Note: Some hubcaps have caps on the lug nuts, which must be loosened before the hubcap is removed.
» Do regularly buy an air gauge. When air gauges are dropped, they don’t work properly.
» Do put plastic caps from tires in your pocket when you remove them to check air pressure. That way, you won’t lose them.
» Do press the gauge against the valve and hold it down firmly. If you hear a hissing noise, you are letting air out. Press down
harder.
» Do buy an air pump for your car. They are especially useful if your tire pressure goes down when you’re in a remote location or on a long trip.
A 12-volt compressor will work from your car.
