LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
The intense summer heat is taking a toll on drivers and their cars in the Las Vegas Valley. Towing companies and auto shops are seeing more tires failing and batteries dying.
Along Interstate 15, a stretch of highway that sees thousands of cars every day, drivers will often find pieces of tires and debris.
"The tires are the only thing keeping your car glued to the ground," said Darrell Wade, a mechanic at Ted Weins Tire and Auto Center.
Wade and his fellow mechanics see plenty of flats and blowouts on any given day during the summer months. He even has one on display.
Most tires, he said, should get around 50,000 miles - some of the best tires can reach 90,000 miles - but not here, not in Las Vegas.
"The black top and the asphalt - it'll hit 150 degrees out there where traffic is running, so your tires are practically melting themselves to the ground, and all the heat from the other cars is radiating back up into your car when you drive over what they drove over," Wade said.
Several drivers on the freeway dealt with tire issues Monday. And truck drivers know all about it.
"I've had a couple blowouts in the past," said Tracy Staples, a truck driver out of Mesquite, NV. Especially in the heat, he said, "it's not fun at all."
Another thing that drains quickly in the desert heat are batteries. Auto experts say you're lucky to get two or three years out of one. Signs that a battery is dying may include dimming headlights or a slowing air conditioner while the vehicle is stopped.
"Watch your gauges, it's that simple," said Wade. "If you see there's a problem, pull over in a safe, slow manner as fast as you can. That way you can see what's going on."
The car experts advise you also check the tire pressure often - about once a month. When you get an oil change, the mechanics should check the pressure for you.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
A piece of tire debris lies on the shoulder of I-15
A crack in a tire can signal an impending blowout.
A common trick is to use a penny to check tread levels. If you can see Lincoln's head, then it's time for a new tire.
