Car maintenance a primary concern as road conditions become an issue in rainy and windy weather

Maintaining your car as the rainy season picks up can save you big in the long run in terms of not just safety but also your wallet.

Experts say you should start from the bottom, meaning brakes, tires and headlights should be your top priority.

This is especially important if you need to make an immediate stop as streets could potentially have large debris or downed power lines on them.

“Brakes and tires are everything,” says David Newton with Newton Brothers Tire & Auto. “Let’s face it if you don’t have good breaks the more chance you have of getting into a bad accident.”

As far as the warning signs are concerned, there are some to keep in mind while driving.

If your car seems to “vibrate” or make a squealing noise when you hit the brakes, that’s a sign you should have your brakes checked out as soon as possible.

Tires in particular should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. You should develop a system where you have your brakes checked the same time as you have your tires rotated.

The ol’ penny test will help you figure out if your tires are starting to become bald. Once the tires go, you’ll have problems coming to an immediate stop on slick roads.

Other concerns as far as brakes include brakes which press down too easily (“spongy” brakes) or if your vehicle pulls to one side while braking. Both are concerns which should be looked at immediately.