{"id":412691,"date":"2024-08-20T13:05:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T13:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=412691"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Practical-tips-for-families-planning-a-fall-off-road-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Practical-tips-for-families-planning-a-fall-off-road-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical tips for families planning a fall off-road weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

(BPT) – Summer\u2019s setting and fall\u2019s around the corner, meaning colder weather, rain and snow are on the way. For families across the land, fall\u2019s still a great time to go off-roading on the weekends. From California to Connecticut \u2014 and everywhere in between \u2014 there are scenic off-road trails of all varieties to explore, featuring rocks, sand, dirt, water, mud and yes, even snow!<\/p>\n

Preparing for Fall Off-Roading<\/strong><\/p>\n

For folks heading out on a fun, off-road fall weekend, this is the ideal time to stop scrolling on the phone, grab some supplies, engage the 4×4 system and see where the adventure takes you. Off-roading is not only an extremely enjoyable way to appreciate the great outdoors, but it also offers a chance to strengthen family bonds and make memories that will last a lifetime.<\/em> Best of all, off-roading is ageless \u2014 it\u2019s a great time for all ages, old and young.<\/p>\n

Supplies Checklist<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on the terrain, you can go off-roading in your daily driver \u2014 almost any four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive SUV, crossover or light truck can handle it. You\u2019ll be out in the wilderness for several hours, so here are 5 basic tips:<\/p>\n

1. Bring plenty of food and water.<\/p>\n

2. Pack extra clothes as temperatures get extra chilly as the sun goes down.<\/p>\n

3. Take along a flashlight (with new batteries) and a basic safety kit with Band-Aids, sunscreen, gloves, etc.<\/p>\n

4. Research the area\/trails you\u2019ll be off-roading at. You\u2019ll most likely be out of cell phone\/GPS range, so it\u2019s always good to know where you\u2019ll be driving and what the road will be like.<\/p>\n

5. Make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape, especially the all-terrain tires or off-road tires.<\/p>\n

\"Large<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOff- or on-road, tires are super important,\u201d says Kevin Nguyen, manager of product planning for Yokohama Tire Corporation<\/a>, manufacturer of a variety of on-road or off-road tires for SUVs, pick-up trucks and passenger cars. \u201cThey play a vital role in braking, steering, comfort and handling. Doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re in a Jeep, electric SUV or family wagon, the wrong tires can result in a disappointment with the handling, ride and treadwear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Choosing the Right Tires for Fall Off-Roading<\/strong><\/p>\n

For off-roading in the fall and winter months, Nguyen says you\u2019ll need something extremely durable with great traction. \u201cIt all depends on what you drive and what you plan to do, but a good choice is top-notch all-terrain (A\/T) tire, which is very versatile and can be used for off-roading as well as daily driving. A great example is our new, rugged GEOLANDAR A\/T4<\/a>. Because of its outstanding off-road resilience and dependable all-weather traction, the ultra-versatile A\/T4 is specifically designed to handle any surface \u2014 on- or off-road \u2014 and in any weather condition \u2014 snow included. It\u2019s a \u2018go anywhere\u2019 tire.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about off-road tires, Nguyen says to check tire company websites like https:\/\/www.yokohamatire.com\/geolandar-tires<\/a> or your tire retailer\u2019s website for more help.<\/p>\n

Maintaining your daily driver tires for everyday use is essential, too, says Nguyen. This includes taking 5 minutes a month to check your tire pressure. \u201cA tire that\u2019s underinflated will affect your drive and the vehicle\u2019s fuel efficiency. Keeping them properly inflated will give you a better ride and save you some at the gas pump,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) recommends checking the tires when they are cold \u2014 at least four hours since the vehicle was last driven. Nguyen says to always use an accurate tire gauge and make sure the valve is free of debris and water. The correct tire pressure is specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle, not the tire manufacturer. The proper inflation levels can be found on a placard on the inside of the car door and\/or in the owner\u2019s manual.<\/p>\n

Nguyen offers more tire tips that will help you throughout the year:<\/p>\n

1. Check your tread depth by placing a penny upside down into a tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln\u2019s head, your tire\u2019s tread has worn down to the legal limit and you need to buy new tires.<\/p>\n

2. Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2\/32 of an inch (the lowest legal limit). It\u2019s best to replace them before they reach 2\/32 depending on your drive (geographically and based on the type of streets).<\/p>\n

3. Rotating your tires regularly promotes even wear of the tread. Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.<\/p>\n

4. Check your alignment at least once a year or sooner, especially if the vehicle is pulling to one side. This will help avoid uneven wear on tire tread. Tire balance should also be monitored.<\/p>\n

For more tire care and safety tips, visit www.yokohamatire.com\/tires-101<\/a> or www.USTires.org<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n


Practical tips for families planning a fall off-road weekend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(BPT) – Summer\u2019s setting and fall\u2019s around the corner, meaning colder weather, rain and snow…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-412691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=412691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412691\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=412691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=412691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=412691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}