A Spare Tire is a Must!
Posted by: info | September 20, 2007
A spare tire can come in very handy when the unexpected happens. It is estimated than nearly 90% of all drivers who have been on the road for 5 years or more have experienced a flat tire at some point. This means that 9 out of every 10 drivers have had a need for a spare tire at some point during their driving life. There are other things all drivers should carry along with a spare tire to make it both useful and effective.
Every new car or truck sold in America that I can think of now comes equipped with a spare tire. In addition to the tire, most car makers provide a jack and lug wrench as well. A brand new spare tire almost never will run out of air until it has been used. However, these tires are not meant to be driven on for long periods or a lot of miles. Therefore, the tire needs to be inspected after use for proper air inflation and potential leaks.
A jack can be as important as the spare tire itself. You should also check you jack and inspect it for proper working conditions. You should become familiar with how to use the jack as well. A jack provided by car makers are sometimes very hard to operate and many drivers can’t use them properly. By inspecting the jack and learning how to use it properly, you can avoid a lot of troubles during an emergency.
Each driver should also learn where to place the jack for proper lifting of the vehicle. Most car makers supply an owner’s manual and list the proper way to change a tire. As a driver, you should have knowledge before hand on how to set it up and use the jack properly.
Lastly, all drivers need to make sure their vehicle is equipped with a lug wrench. A lug wrench is a tool that is used to remove lug nuts from a tire’s wheel. A lug wrench can also be used with your jack as well. Some jacks supplied by car makers use a lug wrench to turn the jack and make it raise and lower it. If you have an aftermarket wrench or wheels you need to make sure that your lug wrench matches your lug nuts. You can’t change a tire without removing the lug nuts.
To prevent thefts, a lot of car makes have a security device for the wheels or hubcaps of a lot of vehicles. You need to learn how to operate the key and make sure it can be easy found in case of an emergency. The key will unlock the hubcap or lug nuts to enable a driver to remove the wheel. If you don’t have the key it will be almost impossible to remove the tire. It is a good idea to have a duplicate copy if possible. You should be able to get this at your dealership.
Changing a tie can be extremely dangerous. It is even more dangerous when the tire needs to be changed with a lot of heavy traffic. The cars can be going speeds in excess of the speed limit so be very careful. Changing a tire can become even more difficult if it is on the driver’s side. The best way to change a tire is with the help of a police office or professional. You can call the police during this situation. It is considered an emergency situation in most areas. A police officer can provide you with a lot of safety and security.
With all this in mind, try to make sure your vehicle is equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to change the tire. You never know when you may need it. It is a very dangerous situation and knowledge and experience can be quite helpful.
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