Most drivers understand the importance of looking after and maintaining their tyres, however, the spare tyre is often overlooked. In order for your spare to get you back on the road when you find yourself with an annoying flat, there’s a few things you should know about maintaining and driving with a spare. As Australia’s leading manufacturer of reliable tyre pressure monitoring systems, Safe T Tyre is committed to keeping all Australian drivers safer on our roads. Here’s a few tips to help you maintain your spare so that it’s in proper working order when you need it most.
Check the Pressure Regularly
Spare tyres don’t have the same road wear as the four active tyres on a car, sometimes they are never even used, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look after it. You should ensure it is properly inflated at all times. Tyres lose pressure with changes in the temperature, and this includes the spare as well. When you check the pressure in your tyres, get into a habit of checking the pressure in your spare at the same time. Check the owner’s manual to find the correct pressure for your spare tyre as it often differs to the pressure required in your active tyres. If you have wisely invested in a TPMS to continually monitor your tyre pressure, install a sensor on your spare as well, or remember to make time every few months to manually check the pressure of your spare.
Get It Inspected
A great way to make sure your spare is ready to roll when needed is to have it inspected whenever you have your tyres rotated. If the inspection reveals any damage, it’s always best to replace it rather than repair it. Even after being repaired, a damaged spare can’t always be trusted to perform well.
Replace All Tyres at Once
When the time comes to get a new set of tyres, don’t forget to replace the spare too. If your car has a full-size spare, it may have been rotated along with your main tyres, in this case it would be worn out like the rest of the set. If your spare is sub-size, make sure it is replaced at least every 8 years or sooner if instructed in your owner’s manual. While replacing the spare can mean higher upfront costs, it’s worth the peace of mind of knowing that it’s there and ready when you need it. It’s also more convenient to replace all the tyres in one go and you may be offered a discount when replacing all, instead of just a couple.
How to Drive on a Spare
Many trucks, SUV’s and larger vehicles are equipped with full size spare tyres, however, most modern vehicles come with space saving/donut spare tyres. Whichever spare you have, it’s important to know it’s limitations, especially if not the same size as your main tyres. Most spares aren’t designed to be driven at the same speeds and for the same duration as regular tyres, so keep your speed down and try to get safely to a place where you can have your main tyre repaired or replaced. For full size tyres, driving on a spare is also not a long-term solution, so try to get your main tyre repaired or replaced quickly as possible.
It’s important to ensure you have a spare that’s always ready to go so you aren’t left stranded when you get a puncture. To keep your tyres in peak condition, a TPMS from Safe T Tyre is your ideal solution. Our tyre pressure monitoring systems are easy to install and simple to use, and have a multitude of benefits from improved fuel efficiency to increased tyre lifespan. Contact us today to find out more.