Here’s What To Look For:

1. Bulges, gouges or cracks
   When a tire deflates, it bulges at the sides. Unser says this is a sign of low tire pressure or a slow air leak. “If you see cracks in the sidewall, gouges or anything that looks odd, take it in to your dealer and have them look at it.”
2. Tread wear
   The old-school penny test is one way to check your treads: Place a penny into the tread, with Lincoln’s head pointing down. If you can still see the top of his noggin, the tread is dangerously low. Most modern tires, however, have wear bars: bits of rubber woven into the pattern at a specific depth. “You can find the wear bars that go across the groove, and if the tread pattern is worn down to that wear bar, you need to replace your tire,” says Unser.
3. Tire pressure
   Tires deflate at a rate of about one pound per square inch (PSI) per month. “You’re not going to wear your tires down in a month,” Unser says, “but you should check that you have the right inflation pressure.”
4. Temperature
   Tire pressure drops in extreme cold. The challenge in summer, says Unser, is “excessive heat buildup in the tire.” If you’re heading out on a road trip with an underinflated tire, it will generate more heat and wear out faster.
5. Vibration
   Watch out for vibration or thumping when you’re driving. If it feels like it’s coming from under the seats, the rear tires may be out of balance. Vibration from the steering wheel could indicate suspension issues. Unser says anything less than a smooth ride means you should take your car in to the dealer.

When it’s time to replace your tires, Riggs recommends doing so in pairs or all four at a time for better performance and traction and, ultimately, a safer ride.
From a flat tire to a dead battery, be ready for anything with Riggs Roadside Assistance 24-hour Emergency Roadside Service.

​How to help a pet left in a hot car

• Take down the car's make, model and license-plate number.
• If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security guards and ask them to make an announcement to find the car's owner. Many people are unaware of the danger of leaving pets in hot cars and will quickly return to their vehicle once they are alerted to the situation.
• If the owner can't be found, call the non-emergency number of the local police or animal control and wait by the car for them to arrive. In several states good Samaritans can legally remove animals from cars under certain circumstances, so be sure to know the laws in your area and follow any steps required.

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Human error
You’ve probably done this at least once in your life – you’ve come home from work, tired and not really thinking, and you’ve left your lights on or you haven’t completely closed your trunk. Then, in the morning, you have a dead car battery, and your car won’t start. Most new cars will alert you if you’ve left your lights on, but may not have alerts for other components.
Parasitic drain
Parasitic drain is due to components in your vehicle continuing to run after the key is turned off. Some parasitic drain is normal – your battery delivers enough energy to keep things like your clock, your radio presets and your security alarm operational at all times. Sometimes, though parasitic drain exceeds what is normal, and can cause car battery drain.
Bad charging
If your charging system isn’t working properly, your car battery can be draining even when you’re driving. If your lights, radio, and other things are running off your alternator, your car battery will drain and you could end up with car battery failure. Then you’ll be stranded at roadside with a stalled car that needs a boost. And even then, bad charging will drain your car’s battery.
Defective alternator diode
If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad diode can even cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off. Then you end up in the morning with a car that won’t start.
Old battery
If your battery is old, it might not hold a full charge any longer. If your car isn’t starting consistently, it’s possible that your battery is just worn out. You should usually replace your battery every 4-5 years, so if your car isn’t starting consistently, and your battery is old, this should be the first thing you consider.
 
If you find yourself with a dead battery and are in need of a jump start or a new battery please call Riggs Roadside at (803) 792-5872 for South Carilna and (507) 469-4859 for Minnesota.We’ll come on out and help you out