Spare Tire Can Leave Family Out in the Cold During Holiday Travel

Published on October 21, 2014 06:21 PM in Maintenance

Holiday driving provides plenty of challenges even for experienced drivers. Imagine how a flat tire could ruin your plans to celebrate with family and friends.

“You should check your spare regularly because tires lose air pressure over time and the last thing you want is a flat spare when you really need it,” said Dan Zielinski, senior vice president of public affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

For vehicles equipped with full-sized spares, Zielinski suggests including them with routine tire rotations so all five tires wear evenly. Routinely checking and monitoring the spare helps ensure it’s ready for action when called into service, he said.

“Tires left in trunks for years and years or stored underneath or outside of a vehicle can adversely affect their performance,” he said.

A fully inflated spare is merely one solution to a deflated tire.

Cans of tire sealants are beneficial to have near your spare, Zielinski said, but added they don’t repair the actual puncture. The sealant’s job is to re-inflate the tire enough to get your vehicle to the repair shop.

Generally sealants are not flammable and can be left in the trunk beside the spare. Zielinksi advised against using products that are flammable and suggested reading product warnings.

Zielinski offered the following suggestions on tire flat repair:

Tire sealant products can temporarily re-inflate a tire and get you to a service station. Caution: Sealants cannot repair a puncture.
Routinely check the spare tire, especially before embarking on a long drive. Make sure it is inflated and in operable condition.
Consider rotating your spare tire along with other tires if it is a full-sized tire. That way all five tires will wear down at the same rate.
Location of puncture determines whether a tire can be repaired. Even a brand-new tire can’t be fixed if the injury is in the sidewall or the shoulder.
Run-flat tires, which continue functioning for up to 50 miles after small punctures, still require repairs. The perforation will need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Run-flat tires are designed to get you to the repair shop so the damage can be assessed.