The Spare Tire: Tips and Tricks for Keeping Safe on the Road

The Spare Tire: Tips and Tricks for Keeping Safe on the Road

A spare tire is commonly provided with most cars as a backup in case one of your main tires fails, likely due to a puncture.

Spare tires are often concealed under the trunk or even under the chassis and don’t always catch the attention of a car owner. As they say, out of site, out of mind.

There are a couple different types of spare tires. There are full size spares, more commonly found on larger vehicles like SUVs. Then, there are donuts. And no, we’re not talking about the soft, sweet jelly filled treat. These are smaller, compact tires that are meant for short distance travel to get you to a repair shop/tire center.

The truth is that folks rarely check on their spare, and really don’t even see them until the day comes when you actually need it. It’s crucial to ensure that your spare tire is ready for those days when you need it most.

Tire Pressure

An obvious tip is to ensure that your tire is properly inflated. Most tires offer the recommended PSI on the sidewall, but you should confirm that number with your car manual. This is especially the case when you have a donut. Some donuts should be filled with as much as 60 or 65 PSI, well above the standard inflation of a normal tire.

Pay Even Closer Attention with Used Cars

If you bought a car used, chances are the spare tire is the same one that came with it when it was new. For this reason, you don’t know how often it was used and what condition it’s in. Take it out and give it a once over and ensure that it will give you dependable, reliable service in the case of an emergency.

You should also look for a date. Most tires have a manufacture date on it. This is important because like most things, tires eventually start to break down and deteriorate. Tired should last you about 6 years before the rubber starts to become compromised and a tire older than 10 years is dangerously close to the end of its life.

If you have an older car, seriously consider checking on your spare and replacing it before you try to/have to use it.

Spares Stores in Exterior Places

Tires exposed to the elements face even faster deterioration rates and more opportunities for damage. Some SUVs, as an example, keep their spares underneath the car, and a crank has to be used to lower it to the ground.

If the location of your space is under your car, Check the bolt that is securing the car to the wire holding it up. After years of exposure to water, salt and grime, they can easily become corroded and become difficult to remove.

Replace Your Spare

We can probably think of a hundred other things we’d rather want to buy than a spare tire. Then again, there are about 100 other things we’d rather be doing than waiting on the side of the road for hours with a flat tire and a flat spare. It’s worth the relatively minor expense to bite the bullet buy a new spare, especially if you bought your car used. It’s cheap insurance and your future self might thank you.

Ask Your Mechanic for Help

Provided your trunk is clean and your spare is accessible, a good mechanic should have little problem taking out your spare and checking it out for you. When you are replacing your regular tires, they may also suggest keeping one to replace as your spare if it’s in good enough shape.

Little things like a spare tire are probably the furthest thing from most people’s minds, until you need them. Let BBack Car Care worry about your spare in the meantime. In addition to tire sales and installation, BBack Care Care would be glad to check your spare and offer some recommendations.

Need service or tires? Request and appointment online or give us a call today.