(281) 548-1111
23901 Eastex Freeway | Kingwood, TX 77339
Check our news
to learn more
Home
Tires
Tire Care Tips
Commercial Tires
Shop Tires by Brand
Michelin Tires
BF Goodrich Tires
Dunlop Tires
Tires in Houston
Wheels
Wheel Visualizer
Packages
Service
Schedule A Repair
Car Care Tips
Light Bars
Running Boards
Offroad Suspension
Shop Truck Accessories
Truck Accessories
Lift Kits
ATV, UTV, and Side-by-Side Repair and Customization
Gallery
Construction Gallery
Lift Kits Gallery
Saving
Financing/Leasing
Contact
Find Us
Jobs
About
News Center
Customer Reviews
Photo Gallery
COVID-19 Notice
BIGTEX Tire & Offroad Reviews
News
31
Should You Buy a Spare Tire
posted on
8/31/2020 8:00:44 AM
Many new cars are now missing a spare tire and are coming from the factory equipped with tires or inflator kits that claim to make a spare tire unnecessary. We usually don’t think about the need for a spare tire until we need it. You should always have a spare tire in your vehicle because you never know when you’ll get a flat or puncture and be on the side of the road stranded. A spare tire and wheel provide you with a direct replacement, allowing you to become mobile again until you get a tire repair service.
Many spare tires for modern cars are smaller than normal tires to save on trunk space, gas mileage, weight, and cost, and they should not be driven on for long before replacement with a full-size tire. Don't wait until you're on the side of the road to invest in a spare tire. If your vehicle doesn’t come equipped with a spare, purchase a spare tire so you can safely replace a damaged tire, and travel to your nearest auto repair shop for proper service.
Types of Spare Tires
A Full-Size Spare Tire: A full-size spare is the same size as the other tires on the vehicle. The major advantage of having a full-size spare is that it’s not a temporary fix. Always have a tire rotation done on all your tires, including the spare if you have a full-size spare tire. Full-size spare tires are an exact replica of your existing tire and wheelset. Their only disadvantage is that they require the most storage space.
Temporary Full-Size Spare: A full-size temporary spare matches your vehicle's original tire dimensions, but it isn't the same in terms of tread depth and weight. These spares are lighter, which makes the tire easier to install. This spare is full size but does not match your regular tires.
Compact Temporary Spare Tire: A compact or donut spare is a temporary fix and should not be used to drive a significant number of miles. These tires are small and narrow, which takes up less space in your trunk but has shallow tread depth. Compact spares purpose is to save the day by getting you to an auto repair shop to have your tires replaced.
Folding Temporary Spare: These are foldable or collapsible tires that will require inflation before they are installed as a temporary spare tire.
A Run-Flat Tire: Run-flat tires are now becoming common for some car manufacturers to include instead of a spare tire. Rather than including a spare tire, these run-flat tires are built to withstand most road hazards, including punctures, and can continue to drive after a puncture for about 50 miles before needing to be replaced.
Flat tires are random occurrences that are beyond your control. Always keep some type of spare tire in your vehicle. You never know when you may get a puncture or flat tire and are stranded on an isolated highway. Regardless of the type of tire, your spare needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. If you use a temporary spare tire, you should not drive more than 50 miles, and no more than 50 miles per hour before replacing your spare tire. A spare tire is meant to get your vehicle safely to the nearest auto repair shop. Driving for long distances on a spare tire can potentially cause damage to other car parts, including the transmission. Inspect your spare when you get replacement tires and when performing monthly air pressure inspections.
Categories:
Tires 101
| View Count: (62) |
Return
Related
11/17/2017
Back to School Checklist
7/12/2018
How Potholes Can Damage Your Car
2/6/2019
What Happens When Tires Sit Too Long in One Place?
7/17/2020
Car Maintenance Items you Should Always Leave to the Professionals
11/17/2017
Prolonging the Life of Your Tires
1/30/2017
Tires & Wheels
Nitto
Mickey Thompson
Firestone
BFGoodrich
Toyo
Bridgestone
Services
Suspension Repair
Wheel Alignments
Brake Repairs
Belts & Hoses
Car Service
About
Home
Tires
Wheels
Packages
Service
Gallery
Saving
Contact
About
Visit Our Shop
BIGTEX Tires & Offroad
Contact Us
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
(281) 548-1111
Fax:
Address:
23901 Eastex Freeway
Kingwood, TX 77339
.
Powered by Net Driven
Login
BIGTEX Tires & Offroad
23901 Eastex Freeway,
Kingwood, TX 77339
Phone:
(281) 548-1111
Fax:
77339
30.06351,-95.24964
Uh oh!
Page not found!
Sorry the page you are looking for may have been moved or deleted.
Please click anywhere to
continue browsing our site.