They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But try telling that to anyone who drives a car.

Most drivers prefer to “put off” auto maintenance until the 11th hour. It’s understandable. We are all way too over-stimulated and way too busy. The last thing on our minds is to check whether our tires are nearing their expiration date. Who wants to schedule a trek out to a tire shop 20 minutes away? Ugh. What a pain.

Bearing that in mind, it may be useful to draw up a checklist of “stuff” you need to review regularly, and to enter all that “stuff” into a calendar or other personal organizational system, so you don’t have to carry around the due dates in your head – or, worse, wait for the warning light to come on in your car (or a tire to blow out).

Here’s a list of stuff to pay attention to:

Your air filter – is it dirty?

When should you change it? Check your maintenance schedule. But also pay attention to how much grime your filter likely has accumulated. If you drive in a dirty city, you might need to change the filter more often than recommended.

Check those brakes and tires!

If your tires or brakes fail, you could careen off the highway and cause a fiery four-car wreck. Don’t mess around with brake or tire maintenance. Get them checked according to schedule. Err on the safe side.

Change your oil and other fluids. (Wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc).

Again, don’t mess around with your schedule. Hew close to manufacture and dealer suggestions. Don’t try to penny pinch, or you may wind up with a shot transmission or a soup of corroded, broken parts inside your vehicle.

Keep your tires properly rotated and inflated.

Remember what we talked about above? Tires are not for messing around. Underinflated or overinflated tires can impair your fuel efficiency, make it more difficult for you to handle your vehicle during an emergency, and possibly lead to a blow out or other failure. Check your owner’s manual for recommended rotation times and tire pressure.

Need help finding the right auto parts for your vehicle?

Connect with the auto dismantler and recycling experts here at Rock & Roll Auto Recycling. Since 1996, our team has helped drivers like you find quality accessories, hard-to-find parts ready-to-install engines, and nearly every possible automotive component under the sun. Find out more at www.rockandrollautoparts.com or connect with us toll free at 888-550-9944.