“If you have a long commute or are about to take a trip, you may want to give your tires a good once over,” reads this article from ABC’s Houston, TX affiliate ABC13.

Tires have to be built to exacting standards, but their vulcanized, rugged exteriors aren’t perfect. If your tires are old, you may start to see signs of cracking – a clear warning that a tire is past its prime. The hot summer weather can turn those cracks into tire failure.

Besides cracks, you should check your tires for other signs of trouble. If you see the wear bars in the tread of your tire, you need new tires immediately!

So before the long trip this summer, or even just before you head out on your daily commute, check those tires!

Click here to find out more about how to read the date codes on your tire, and check for signs of wear.