Long-Distance Highway & Mountain Road Trip Checklist: Tires, Spare Wheel, Fluids & Emergency Kit
Pre-departure inspection points 48 hours before a long highway journey: full-load tire pressures, spare tire inflation, brake pad thickness, and mandatory road safety gear.
| Full-Load Cold Tire Pressure | +0.2 to +0.4 bar (+3 to +6 PSI) per door-jamb placard |
|---|---|
| Compact Temporary Spare (T-Type) | 4.2 bar (60 PSI) · Max speed 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Minimum Brake Pad Friction | ≥ 4.0 mm before mountain or highway trip |
| Mandatory EU Roadside Kit | EN ISO 20471 high-vis vest per occupant + warning triangle |
1. Adjusting Tire Pressure for Full Passenger & Luggage Load
Check the B-pillar placard for the heavy-load row (4–5 passengers + luggage). Inflate all four tires cold (before driving more than 2 km) and always check the trunk spare wheel — temporary space-saver spares require 4.2 bar (60 PSI) and lose ~0.07 bar per month.