As spring rolls in, and flashes of summer days come and go, it becomes time to shed those winter tires and prepare your vehicle for the hot summer days ahead.

The harsh weather of winter gets all the attention when it comes to car maintenance, but the summer heat can have an impact on your vehicle just as much as the cold during the winter.

“During the summer, those black cars, you can fry an egg on them sometimes,” Body Shop Manager Bob Wearing of the Kelly Collision Center on Route 8 said. “A good coat of wax would go a long way on them.”

With drastic temperature changes, your car’s tire pressure could fluctuate. Making sure your tires remain at the vehicle’s recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) is important because the tires will begin to wear unevenly.

With gas prices where they are these days, your tires and the correct pressure can go a long way in getting every mile you can out of your vehicle.

“Around this area, you want to have winter tires on during winter, and all-season or regular tires on during the summer,” Wearing said.

Professional help is needed most of the time when it comes to vehicles, especially with breaks.

Breaks see more wear and tear after winter, so if a grinding sound is heard or vibration is felt when applying your brakes, your system might need to be checked.

“There’s not a whole lot people can do unless they start hearing a noise or something like that,” Wearing said. “You never want to add fluid yourself because when the pads wear down, the pistons come out and then you would have to push the brakes back in.”

Brakes need to be looked at once a year, and maybe even changed out, but this can vary based on the driver.

“(It) just depends on how much you drive and how you drive,” Wearing said.

Summer heat can also take a toll on your vehicle’s battery.

Cleaning the battery is something that can be done at home, but Wearing recommends having your battery’s load tested for summer, which should be done by a professional.

“If it has that green oxidation on it, I’d recommend taking the terminals off and (use a) wire brush (on) them,” Wearing said. “There are different types of battery sprays you can put on there.

“Everyone thinks winter is when you need a battery, but the summer is worse on them, so you’ve got to make sure you get a good battery.”

No matter what time of year it is, staying on a regular schedule when it comes to an oil change is simply good practice for all vehicle owners.

“I’m a synthetic oil guy,” Wearing said. “I’d recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles. Sometimes you hear them say at 10,000 or 15,000, but I’m not one of those guys.”

Other fluids that may need attention are coolant, transmission and possibly power steering.

Unless you have a strong knowledge of vehicles, professional help in topping off these fluids is highly recommended.

The air conditioning unit in your vehicle shouldn’t incur any problems heading from winter to summer specifically.

If you notice any decrease in cooling capacity, it could be number of things.

“You shouldn’t really see a problem unless your system has leak or something,” Wearing said. “If you realize it’s not working to its fullest you should take it in have it checked out.”

Vehicle maintenance is something that has to be done, and for the most part, it’s best to seek professional help.

We depend on our vehicles, whether it’s our daily commute or a summer road trip.

It’s always better to prevent problems before they happen.

“We’ll always say bring it on over and we can run some basic tests on it,” Wearing said. “If (the car has) been here before, we will have a record on it, and then we can better recommend what needs to be done.

“Sometimes there is just neglect. That’s the main thing. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.”