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There have been many safety precautions this summer- use sunscreen, drink plenty of water, don’t leave your pets inside your car.

Checking the tires on your vehicle is something you may not have added to that checklist – but it could save your life.
           
If you drive down Highway 77, it won’t take long to spot one of these, or scraps left behind by a blown-out tire.

And while some may think a blown-out tire is just a case of bad luck, experts in tread say the hot pavement is the culprit.

"This for example right here the heat it always cracks them through the side wall and through the top of the tire,” Hugo Vidal, a sales representative at Red Barn Tires in Brownsville said. “So whenever you see a very low tread on the tire, usually that one needs to be replaced.”
           
Vidal said that as the heat rises, so does tire pressure. It also expands and softens the rubber. He recommends checking the production date on tires to determine if it’s time for new tires.
           
However, if you’re strapped for cash for the latest models- some spare change can help you figure out if you need to upgrade before you make the switch.

"This is a quick test right here,” Vidal said. “What people can do is grab a penny, put it in the tire and if half of the penny fits, that's a new tire - that's a good tire."
           
Tire experts encourage drivers to replace tires every two to three years or sooner, depending on how much wear and tear the vehicle's tires have been through.

"Its got a production date on the side of the tire and that is very important because this can be a tire with a lot of tread but it can be a six, seven year-old tire and that tire can blow-out."

Changing your tires can be expensive but these tire experts say your safety is worth the investment if you do a lot of driving down these hot valley streets.
           
Vidal said people should get their tires rotated and air-pressure checked every three months.