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KA-BOOM! THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Your car has a flat tire but there's no need to
worry. Those compact spares are much easier to maneuver than the old fashioned
ones. In fifteen minutes you, or some good Samaritan, are finished and back on
the highway. But before reaching the next exit, pieces of your spare tire are
flying over the interstate.
A functional spare is a comforting accessory, but an underinflated or dry
rotted one is worthless. One that is buried under tons of trunk trash is
useless, too. By avoiding the following pitfalls, you can be assured that your
baby tire is as capable as his big brothers.
Underinflation: Underinflation is the culprit in most bad spare scenarios. If
your spare is low, it may shred on the way home or to the service facility.
The distance you can travel before this happens is directly related to the
tire's inflation level. Check the pressure of the spare, as well as the other
four tires every month or two.
Dry Rotting: Tires, like clothing, tend to deteriorate with age. Although this
problem is not as common as underinflation, it bears consideration. Tires do
have a shelf life. After a period of time, they may begin to develop small
cracks in the sidewall, your first clue to this condition.
Inaccessibility: The leading reason spare tires fall victim to underinflation
and dry rotting is inaccessibility. If you do your own vehicle maintenance,
clear out the trunk and check that "Mickey Mouse" tire. If you take your car
to a shop, most automotive technicians are happy to check your spare if they
can get to it. However, few will move your cargo for the sake of your spare.
Final Notes:
- Some space saving spares are made to travel up to 3,000 miles
at highway speeds; most are limited to 50 m.p.h. It is, as car makers state,
for temporary use. Replace it with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
- Keep your compact spare and its wheel together and do not use them on another
car.
- Do not use tire chains on the space saving spare. They won't fit and
will damage the car as well as the chains.
- Don't even think about driving through a car wash that pulls the car
along guide rails. The spare can get caught on the rail and damage the tire,
wheel and possibly other parts of your car as well.
Remember: a flat tire in the trunk is about as useful as a flashlight without
batteries.
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