Check Your Spare Tire!

A

Accumulator

Well-known member
Just a reminder to check the pressure and condition of your spare tire from time to time.



I'm pretty good about the cars, but I hadn't done the under-vehicle spare on the Tahoe for a while. After redressing it (just used some old Endurance), I decided to check its pressure and found it had dropped to 34psi, not truly safe for a big SUV, so I pumped it back up.



If your vehicle has a similar setup with the spare underneath, you might also want to make sure the mounting hardware is OK; I keep mine very clean and spray it with https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/amh.aspx every now and then.



If/when you *do* need your spare, it's nice to know you won't have any headaches besides the whole hassle of putting it on. You do have gloves, a dropcloth, etc. right? And if you're running aftermarket wheels you might oughta make sure you have the right lugnuts/bolts for the spare too.



Getting a flat is bad enough without any surprises...
 
Totally agreed, but also I have another thought on the subject: is your AAA membership up to date?



On a rainy night down a dark back road, I'd much rather let a tow truck driver deal with it!
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Totally agreed, but also I have another thought on the subject: is your AAA membership up to date?



On a rainy night down a dark back road, I'd much rather let a tow truck driver deal with it!
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Yeah, good advice about having roadside assistance.



But generally I'd rather change out a flat than ride herd over the guy AAA sends, even under hideous conditions. Heh heh, Accumulatorette had a guy change one on her A8 once, and she had to walk him through doing it properly, as in step-by-step. Heaven knows what he woulda done had she not coached him ("those are plastic lug covers, you pull 'em off with this..", "wait! Don't bugger up the back of the rim by letting it hit the rotor or caliper", "here, screw in this guide pin to help you position the wheel", etc. etc.).



But on the Tahoe, sure...the whole spare tire procedure on that one is a huge PIA. But I bet they guy would still need coaching, at least about the lugnut covers. And a friendly reminder to *not* ding up the (carefully painted) rear drums.
 
I had AAA coming regularly to pick up the old Maxima. I knew the driver by name at that point. As for roadside, it's quite possible that they might not ever show up,so I'd get in the habit of knowing how to change a tire quickly myself. I ought to practice more at home, to be prepared on the road.
 
I went to check the spare in the Cayman S and it's MISSING! And the jack is gone, too! LOL!



What they give you is a tire repair kit, an electric pump, and a pair of gloves. Woo hoo!



Needless to say, AAA is on quick dial!
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Totally agreed, but also I have another thought on the subject: is your AAA membership up to date?



On a rainy night down a dark back road, I'd much rather let a tow truck driver deal with it!
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I don't think Accumulator needs to worry about AAA I heard AARP has a roadside service plan. :LOLOL:whistle:
 
I'm sure no one has any delusions about what sort of group does tow work. That said, the most important thing is road side safety. A new tire and rim is cheap compared to someone being hurt. Its critical to find a good spot to pull over, I see way to many people very close to the side of the road. Drivers are more distracted than ever (as seen in the thread where some twit just wiped out my S4).
 
Had 5 psi in my donut spare in my other Maxima when I hit a drive shaft laying across I-30 between Hope and Arkadelphia in Arkansas and broke a wheel. Luckily the sidewall of the spare was stiff enough I was able to make it 4 more miles up the road after putting it on in place of my broken wheel and filled it to the proper pressure, then drove it another 65 miles to Little Rock to a Nissan dealer. After that, I make it a habit to check the pressure a couple times a year.
 
On my wife's RAV4 she was receiving a low tire pressure warning, I checked the each tire about 3 times--none were low. Finally dawned on me to check the spare, it had 15 psi, I refilled it and the alarm cleared. :dance:
 
CaptPat said:
On my wife's RAV4 she was receiving a low tire pressure warning, I checked the each tire about 3 times--none were low. Finally dawned on me to check the spare, it had 15 psi, I refilled it and the alarm cleared. :dance:
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Same thing happened when I had my Lexus. Didn't worry about the alarm when all the tires checked out but when I took it in for service a week or so later they told me that was it.
 
Accumulator said:
Just a reminder to check the pressure and condition of your spare tire from time to time.
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Good advice. I always hear about people getting in accidents and when going to put their spare tire on, it's flat.
 
David Fermani said:
... I always hear about people getting in accidents and when going to put their spare tire on, it's flat.
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I see jacked-up cars with a wheel off sittig beside the road all the time, and I think "flat spare".



I have additional spare-related headaches with the Crown Vic (but only until I get its next set of tires ;) ) as the spare not only takes different lugnuts, but ones that require a different size wrench :rolleyes:
 
And coincidentally enough....



Accumulator said:
..I have additional spare-related headaches with the Crown Vic (but only until I get its next set of tires ;) ) as the spare not only takes different lugnuts, but ones that require a different size wrench :rolleyes:
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....it's going in for a new set of Michelins today and the spare will now be a match for the other four :D
 
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