Before striking out on vacation, auto owners are smart to have their cars tuned up by a mechanic. However if the tune up is not in your plan, there's more you can do.

To ensure your car is safe, Virginia auto insurance customers should look at their wheels. Literally, your tires: This summer drivers will probably check their oil and top of their gas tanks and forget one of the most important things they should look at before starting a long drive: Tire pressure.

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about one in every 20 crashes is the result of tire problems, especially in cases where wheel pressure is lower than it should be. Consumer Reports noted that in combination with road conditions and other factors, an under-inflated tire can make these factors more difficult to deal with. In certain types of vehicles, trying to avoid an accident in a vehicle whose tires aren't properly inflated can actually cause more serious crashes. SUVs, trucks and vans were more likely to roll over, the NHTSA discovered.

Under-inflating can result in tires wearing out faster, the NHTSA says, and this can lead to more accidents as well. Not only should Virginia car insurance be up to date before drivers hit the road for either short commutes or long road trips this summer, but so should their tires.