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(BPT) - Across the country people are planning to take longer road trips this year. If you plan to be one of them, here are five maintenance tips to consider for today's cars.

Prep for that trip

* New tires? "For four-wheel drive cars and trucks, buy new tires as a complete set," says RockAuto.com Engineer and Vice President Tom Taylor. "Mixing old and new tires or just mixing tire brands can create small differences in tire diameter that may be enough to overheat and damage four-wheel drive parts."

* What spare tire? Adding air to the spare used to be all that was needed, but many newer cars do not have a spare tire. They may have "run-flat" tires or come equipped with an air compressor and sealant. Become familiar with your vehicle's spare tire system before you leave town and decide if it is adequate. Maybe you will want to upgrade to a full size spare.

* Why new struts? Pushing down on a fender and counting the bounces is not a good test for the shocks and struts on modern cars. "Some people are happy that their struts seem to be lasting forever but they don't realize that the struts actually wore out thousands of miles ago," says Taylor. "Bad struts lead to unnecessary wear on a whole slew of additional parts including the brakes, rubber boots, suspension bushings and engine mounts." For the safest handling and braking, replace your struts and shocks at 50,000 miles or at the mileage recommended by the manufacturer.

* Just the belt? Modern engine belts last a long time. Most car owners do not resist when their mechanic tells them it is time to replace the belts after many miles or years. "Owners should listen to their mechanics when they are told the belt tensioners need to be replaced along with the belt," says Taylor. "Those are the spring-loaded pulleys that keep the belt at the correct tension. Putting a new belt on old tensioners can mean premature wear on the new belt or damage to the alternator or other components spun by the belt."

* Hose looks new? New engine hoses also now last much longer than they used to. Hoses do eventually fail and the damage often starts in the hose's inner layers where it is out of sight. A burst radiator hose still means a disrupted trip and today's aluminum alloy engines are often even more susceptible to heat damage. Follow the guidance of your repair manual or mechanic on when to replace hoses.

Some owners may get away with leaving a radiator hose untouched for decades, but for the rest, common sense assessment of risks and rewards shows why these tips are worth following.

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