Winter in Louisville and Southern Indiana takes a toll on vehicles. As temperatures rise, here's everything you should check to ensure your car is ready for spring and summer driving.
Check Your Tires
Winter driving, potholes, and temperature swings all affect your tires.
- Check tire pressure — adjust to the spec on your door jamb sticker
- Inspect tread depth (use the penny test: if you see Lincoln's head, replace)
- Look for uneven wear patterns that indicate alignment issues
- Switch from winter tires back to all-season or summer tires
- Rotate tires if it hasn't been done in 5,000+ miles
Inspect Brakes
Road salt and moisture accelerate brake wear and corrosion. If you hear squealing, grinding, or pulsation when braking, schedule an inspection.
- Visual pad thickness check
- Rotor condition and surface inspection
- Brake fluid level and condition
- Caliper slide pin lubrication
Top Off All Fluids
Spring is the perfect time for a comprehensive fluid check.
- Engine oil — change if due or overdue
- Coolant level and condition (flush every 2 years)
- Brake fluid (hygroscopic — absorbs moisture over time)
- Power steering fluid
- Windshield washer fluid (switch from winter formula)
Test Your Battery
Cold weather is hard on batteries. A battery that barely survived winter may fail when summer heat arrives. Most auto parts stores offer free battery testing, or bring it to us and we'll check it as part of any service visit.
💡 Car batteries typically last 3-5 years. If yours is older than 3 years, get it tested before summer.
Replace Wipers & Check Lights
Winter weather destroys wiper blades, and spring rain demands good visibility.
- Replace wiper blades if they streak or skip
- Check all exterior lights (headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights)
- Clean headlight lenses if they've yellowed
- Test your AC system before the first hot day
Schedule Your Spring Service
Don't wait until something breaks. A spring maintenance visit at Pinnacle Motorsports covers all these items and more — keeping your vehicle safe and reliable all season long.
- Comprehensive multi-point inspection
- All fluid levels checked and topped off
- Tire condition and pressure verification
- Brake inspection included
- AC system performance check