You might be hitting the highways for the holidays. Before you worry about traffic and packing, you need to check your tires. In this Angie's list report, News Four's Tessa Darlington explains why a bad tire could turn your holiday trip into a nightmare.

"I don't always get the regular maintenance on my tires. I try to when I get oil changes every so often, but I usually run out of time,” Ashley DeVon said.

Saving time by skipping tire maintenance could turn into spending more money down the road.

"It’s never a bad idea to rotate your tires. It will help the tires last longer. It will keep the wear even, and again it's going to cost the consumer less money in the long run when the tires are running evenly and more efficiently,” David Beck said. Beck is an auto service department manager.

"Many people don't realize that keeping your tires properly inflated and maintained can improve your gas mileage by up to three percent,” Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks said.

Besides the economical factors, there are much more important reasons to check those tires.

"There are nearly 600 deaths every year as a result of poor tire maintenance,” Hicks said.

What should you do? Mechanics recommend getting your tires rotated every three thousand to five thousand miles. Also, some cars have alert lights to let you know if your tire pressure is off. However, it's also a good idea to check your pressure once every two weeks, but there are times when you should talk to a mechanic.

"If you find that you have some problems with your tires, if your car is pulling for example, or you are hearing strange noises from your tires, that's when you want to consult a pro,” Hicks said.

You should also have your tires' balance and alignment checked for taking a long trip this holiday season.