LONGVIEW (KYTX) – Not only is the heat affecting people, it can also take a toll on tires. With the right amount of heat and lack of inspection, tires can be blown out and drivers can be stranded on the side of the road.

Jeff Underwood is the lead technician at Automotive Super Center in Longview. He said this problem is only heightened in a hot area like East Texas.

“When you’re driving and tires heat up, that causes air to expand,” Underwood said. “At that point, you want to make sure you’re not running high pressure. You don’t want to run low pressure. You want to have it on your proper pressure settings. Don’t forget, Texas has some real heat right now. The heat factor is everything.”

The rising heat can cause tires to expand, eventually making them blow out. Cracks on tires and on roads can grow bigger, leading to serious car problems. With how important tires are for a driver’s safety, these issues shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“All electronics along with the AC system and practically every part of the car can be hurt by the heat without proper care,” Underwood said. “This can cost a lot of money to fix.”

Underwood said before you leave your house in the morning, it would be good to check your tires and your spare tire as well. He also said its important to regularly check on your coolant, as these hot days can cause your car to overheat.