No one wants a flat tire, but if it does happen, having a spare can be what saves you from being stuck on the side of the road. However, if you haven’t checked your car lately, you should.
You might be surprised to find either your car didn’t come with a spare tire or the one you have may be expired.
“Definitely not how I wanted to spend my day off,” said Luz Plasencia.
While driving to an appointment, Plasencia felt that familiar “thud.”
“Sure enough, I had a flat tire,” she said.
Consumer Reports says safety comes first in the event that you do get a flat tire.
“You should pull off the road as far as you can in a safe area,” said Consumer Reports Auto Expert Ryan Pszczolkowski.
Next, you’ll want to have a space-saver spare tire — lovingly called the donut. It long ago replaced the full-sized spare in most passenger cars. With any luck, you might go years without needing to use one, but it should not be forgotten.
But the number of years is important.
“Your spare tire expires just like your other four tires,” warned Pszczolkowski.
Yes, spare tires expire. The last two digits of the DOT number on the sidewall of the donut tire indicate the year the tire was manufactured. If it’s older than 10 years, replace it.
And, of course, a spare tire only works if it’s properly inflated. Check your spare tire’s pressure and condition anytime you check the pressure on your other tires and top off as needed.
“Unfortunately, my car doesn’t come with a spare tire,” said Plasencia.
According to Consumer Reports, 60% of new cars don’t have a spare tire.
“In an effort from the manufacturers to lower production costs and reduce weight for fuel economy, they’re just leaving the spare tire out. So don’t ever assume you just have a spare tire,” Pszczolkowski explained.
Instead, Pszczolkowski says you’ll likely get an air compressor or a can of tire sealant that is supposed to patch a damaged tire and get you to a shop where it can be repaired or replaced.
Some cars, mostly luxury models, come with run-flat tires that allow you to continue driving for a set distance, usually 50 miles at modest speeds — enough to get you home or to a service center for a replacement.
“You shouldn’t drive around on these tires or a patched tire because it’s not a permanent fix,” Pszczolkowski warned.
No matter what flat tire solution your car has, Consumer Reports advises that you learn HOW to use it before you need it because you may need to use it in the rain, dark, or other challenging circumstances.