Warmer weather in Firestone means more time on the road and more demands on your vehicle.

Between spring temperature swings, rainy months, and summer heat pushing into the upper 80s, your car needs a little attention to keep up.

Here's a simple seasonal checklist from the team at Christian Brothers Automotive on Firestone Blvd to help you stay ahead of car issues this spring and summer.

Preparing Your Car for Spring

Wash Off Winter Road Chemicals

Roads usually get treated with chemical de-icers all winter to prevent ice buildup, and that stuff clings to the underside of your car long after the snow is gone. Over time, it eats away at metal components you can't see, like brake lines and your undercarriage.

A full wash with a proper undercarriage rinse as soon as winter wraps up is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to protect your car long-term.

Check Tires and Tire Pressure

Temperature swings cause your tire pressure to fluctuate, affecting how your car handles and how your tires wear.

Take a few minutes to check your tire pressure and compare it to the recommended PSI in your owner's manual or door jamb sticker. And while you're at it, look at your tread. If it's getting low or you notice uneven wear, it's worth having them looked at, especially since spring tends to be our rainiest stretch of the year. 

If you were running winter tires, now's the time to switch back to your all-seasons.

Here's a checklist of what to do:

• Inflate tires to the manufacturer's recommended PSI (found in your door jamb or owner's manual). 
• Inspect tread depth; replace tires if it's below 4/32 of an inch. 
• Look for sidewall cracking or uneven wear from winter driving. 
• Swap winter tires back to all-seasons if applicable. 

May is usually Firestone's wettest month, so worn tires on wet roads are a safety risk, not just an inconvenience.

Get Your Alignment and Suspension Checked After Pothole Season

Spring potholes are very common after winter. All that freezing and thawing over winter weakens the pavement, and those rough patches show up everywhere.

If your car has been pulling to one side, feels a little "off," or took a hard hit on a rough stretch of road this winter, it's worth having your alignment and suspension looked at. Catching it early is almost always cheaper than waiting.

Have Your Battery Tested

Your battery works hard all winter, keeping up with cold starts and the extra demands of heaters and defrosters. A battery that made it through but was running on fumes likely won't last much longer, especially once summer heat kicks in and adds its own stress.

If your battery is three years old or older, just get it tested. It takes a few minutes, and it's the kind of thing that's really easy to take care of before it becomes a problem.

Check Your Fluids

Winter is hard on everything under the hood. Spring is a good time to run through the basics:

• Engine oil: If you're due for a change, now's a great time. Fresh oil helps clear out anything that has built up over winter.
• Coolant: Make sure the level and mixture are good heading into warmer months.
• Brake fluid: Quick check for level and condition.
• Transmission fluid: Easy to forget, but worth including.
• Windshield washer fluid: Top it off for spring rain and road grime season.

Have Your Brakes Inspected

Winter driving, all that slow stopping on snow and ice, puts extra wear on your brakes. With more pedestrians, cyclists, and kids out and about as the weather warms up, this isn't the time to let that slide. If your brakes feel soft, make noise, or you just can't remember when they were last inspected, bring your car in.

Replace Wiper Blades

Ice and freezing rain can quickly wear down wiper rubber. Streaky or skipping wipers are annoying in clear weather and genuinely dangerous during a spring storm. Wiper blades are inexpensive and can be swapped out in minutes. Don't put it off.

Do a Quick Light Check

Winter driving means your lights have been working harder than usual. Walk around your vehicle and check the headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. Replace any burnt-out bulbs. Visibility matters year-round, but especially during unpredictable spring weather.

Preparing Your Car for Summer

Get Your A/C Checked Before You Need It

Firestone summers can regularly push into the upper 80s, and the Colorado sun hits hard. The worst time to find out your A/C isn't working is on the first really hot day of the year. Having a quick inspection and a recharge if needed before summer arrivals makes a big difference, especially if you have kids or pets in the car.

Check Your Cooling System

Your engine works harder when it's hot outside, and your cooling system is what keeps things from going sideways.

Make sure your coolant is at the right level, and have your hoses and belts looked at for any cracking or wear. An overheating engine on a July afternoon is exactly the kind of situation that's very avoidable with a little preventive care.

Here's what to check:

• Coolant level and condition; consider a flush if it's been several years.
• Hoses and belts for cracks, bulging, or wear.
• Any signs of leaks around connections.

Monitor Your Tire Pressure for Summer Heat

While cold air deflates tires, heat does the opposite: pressure builds, raising your risk of a blowout. Check your tire pressure in the morning, when they're cold, before you start driving, and compare it to your owner's manual as a guide. While you're at it, take a look at your sidewalls for any cracking that developed over winter.

Recheck Your Battery

If you had your battery tested in spring and it came back weak, replace it before summer. Heat speeds up the chemical breakdown inside batteries. A borderline battery in May often becomes a dead battery in August.

Replace Air Filters

Your engine air filter and cabin air filter both collect a winter's worth of dust and debris. Fresh filters help your engine run more efficiently, which matters more when it's hot, and keep the air inside your car cleaner. It's a simple swap that's easy to overlook.

Top Off Fluids Again if Needed

Summer heat can quickly lead to fluid breakdown. Before temperatures climb, recheck:

• Engine oil
• Coolant
• Brake fluid
• Windshield washer fluid

Protect Your Interior from the Sun

The Colorado sun is intense. It fades dashboards, dries out leather, and can heat your car's interior to extreme temperatures fast. A windshield sunshade is one of the easiest investments you can make. Parking in the shade when you can also helps. Small habits like these go a long way toward keeping your interior in good shape over the years.

Here's a checklist of simple steps that go a long way:

• Use a windshield sunshade when parked.
• Consider UV-protective seat covers.
• Park in the shade when possible.

These habits also help keep your car's resale value over time.

Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car

Summer road trips and outdoor adventures are fun, but also a great reminder to check what's actually in your car.

Keep the basics on hand to be prepared and safe in case of a breakdown:

• Flashlight and jumper cables
• First-aid kit
• Water and non-perishable snacks
• Phone charger
• Extra water bottle and blanket

Schedule Your Seasonal Car Inspection!

You don't have to work through this list alone. At Christian Brothers Automotive Firestone Blvd, we offer courtesy inspections that cover the essentials: tires, fluids, brakes, belts, battery, and more. We'll tell you exactly what we find, explain what's urgent and what can wait, and never recommend work you don't need.

Schedule an appointment or contact us online to get in touch with our Firestone auto shop. We'll get your car ready for spring and summer so you can focus on enjoying the season!