Worn out tires and windshield wiper blades are symptoms of neglected vehicle maintenance that put passengers and drivers at serious risk throughout the typically rainy months of spring.

Broken down windshield and tires wiper blades are signs of neglected vehicle maintenance that put passengers and drivers at serious risk during the typically rainy months of spring.

According to the Car Care Council, thin tire treads create hazardous driving conditions when water increases on the roadway. Deep tread accommodates accumulated water; thin tread fails to. Thin tread causes the tire to hydroplane – ride through to a film of water, losing contact with the pavement, similar to driving on ice.

The easiest method to check tire tread depth is with a penny. Insert the penny into the grooves from the tread. If you can to see all Lincoln’s head, the tire needs replacement.

Rainy weather also affects driver visibility. A clean windshield is imperative, because 90 percent of driving decisions depend on good vision. Streaking and smearing impair vision and are caused by worn windshield blades. One from every five vehicles that went through the auto Care Council’s check lanes had worn wiper blades.

“Replacing worn wiper blades is easy and inexpensive,” said Rich White of your Car Care Council. “Why put it off until there’s a downpour and your blades are chattering and smearing the windshield? ”