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Flat Answers:
Run-flat Tires vs. Repair Kit vs. Spare

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If you are the observant type, then you are aware of the type of tire aid kit you have stashed away in your trunk or sitting in some other alcove within your SUV, truck, or minivan. It wasn’t too long ago that a full-size spare served as the fifth tire in almost all vehicles, but today you may find a “donut” spare, a repair kit or no spare at all thanks to run-flat tires. We’ll take a look at each flat tire aid option and what this could mean for you during an emergency.

The Traditional Spare Tire

For decades, manufacturers provided consumers with a full-size spare tire wrapped within a wheel. Such spares matched the other four tires and were usually included in tire rotation patterns, ensuring even wear amongst all five.

First-time drivers learned how to change spares, finding a lug wrench and a scissor jack next to the spare. Practicing how to change a tire was a teen rite of passage, at least for those who anxiously awaited their driver’s license and perhaps purchased their first car.

The benefit of a full-size spare is that you can drive it at a normal speed and keep the spare on the wheel for as long as you want. Just remember to fix the flat before making it your new spare! On the other hand, changing a tire isn’t easy — they’re heavy and if you have to change it on the side of the road, you might put yourself and others in danger.

Are Spare Tires Smaller?

It was sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s, when Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) began substituting full size spares for smaller tires, typically known as compact or “donut” spares. Although smaller than conventional tires, compact spares are a sufficient, but a temporary replacement for your other tires.

The earliest compact spares were stored deflated, with a can of compressed carbon dioxide included for quick inflation. Later, manufacturers developed already inflated compact spares requiring no inflation prior to mounting. Compact spares are designed for short drives and operated at speeds below 50 mph.

Manufacturers like them because they fit in small or tight spaces, freeing up room for other storage. They also cost less. From the consumer’s perspective, they’re easier to lift and install than conventional spare tires.

There are several disadvantages too, including compact spares simply do not have the same level of grip as conventional tires. This can affect braking and handling, making it more difficult to stop and control the vehicle. An installed compact spare might also affect cars equipped with a rear differential, putting stress on this component. Clearly, only use a compact spare tire briefly before fixing your flat and mounting it back on the wheel.

A stashed air compressor can replenish lost air quickly.

Your No Spare Option: A Tire Repair Kit

In place of spare tires, some manufacturers aren’t using them at all. Instead, you’ll find a tire repair kit comprised of a flat fixer sealant and a compressor.

Such kits are useful, but only if your tire absorbs the nail. If the tire is cut, split or blows out, then you’ll have to call for help.

A Better Way: Run-Flat Tires

Yet another option for car owners are run-flat tires. They’re more commonly found on new cars, especially luxury models. The following FAQs may help you decide if they’re right for you.

Q. Are Run-Flat Tires Good?

A. Yes. Who needs a spare tire when your tires cannot go flat? So-called run-flat tires are designed just as the name implies: if you run over a nail or glass, your tires aren’t likely to go flat. Instead, self-sealing properties within the tread close up around the object.

Q. Are Run-flat Tires Repairable?

A. Not always. Run-flat tires can’t handle every tire issue. Indeed, if you have a blowout, the tire is no good — the same can be said for any tire, however. Without a spare, you’ll have to call for help.

Q. Are Run-flat Tires Safer?

A. Run-flat tires may be the safest choice for car owners. Instead of finding yourself stuck by the side of the road, you can keep driving — up to 100 miles. In this case, you don’t have to worry about getting involved in an accident if you pull off to the side of the road. There are some drawbacks — run-flat tires wear out faster and are more expensive to replace.

Roadside assistance is one way to ensure you’re never stranded.

Are Spare Tires Required by Law?

Spare tires are not required by law and that’s one reason why manufacturers are eliminating them or providing other options.

Concerning your personal options, the best-laid plans for the prepared car owner will sometimes fail. A backup plan is necessary and may involve roadside assistance.

If you own a new car, the plan may be included with your warranty. For everyone else, joining a roadside assistance club may supply the assurance you need to avoid becoming stranded for hours on the side of a dangerous road.

Sources

Popular Mechanics: How Long Can You Really Use Your Spare Tire? — http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3254/how-long-can-you-really-use-your-spare-tire-7710515/

National Motorist Association Blog: What Ever Happened To The Full-Size Spare Tire? — https://www.motorists.org/blog/full-size-spare-tire-abandonment/

TireRack.com: Tire Tech — Flat Tire Repairs – After Driving on Flat Run-Flat Tires — https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=226

CarTalk: Today: Does Fix-A-Flat Really Work? — https://www.cartalk.com/blogs/dear-car-talk/today-does-fix-flat-really-work

ABC News: ‘GMA’ Investigates: New Cars Being Sold Without Spare Tires — http://abcnews.go.com/US/gma-investigates-cars-sold-spare-tires/story?id=36435661

Edmunds.com: The Pros and Cons of Run-Flat Tires — https://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/run-flat-tires-a-primer.html

Related Reading

The Skinny on Summer Tires

Replacement Tires: Where to Buy Them

Michelin, GM Collaborate on Airless Tires

How to Buy New Tires for Your Car

Photo attribution: First photo: Auto Trends Magazine. Second and third photos: Pixabay.com.

Driver Safety:
Distracted Driving Awareness

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Distracted driving is not just a nuisance, but it is a killer. Indeed, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 3,166 people were killed due to distracted driving in 2017. This figure represents nearly 1 in 10 motor vehicle deaths. Behind the grim statistics are the grieving families and friends suffering because of such callous disregard for others. You can avoid adding to these statistics by incorporating the following driver safety tips as part of your overall distracted driving awareness initiative.


1. Distracted driving defined. Simply put, distracted driving is engaging in any type of activity in addition to driving your vehicle. Typically, this involves using a cell phone or other electronic device while driving. It can also include taking your eyes off the road to fiddle with the audio or navigation systems, playing with your smartphone, turning your head around to talk with a rear-seated passenger, eating and drinking, personal grooming, watching a video, and more. In other words, any type of activity that detracts from your driving should be avoided.

2. General cell phone use. Cell phone use while driving is permitted in some states. Simply because it is allowed does not make it a good thing. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) drivers who talk on the phone are nearly four times as likely to be involved in a crash than an alert driver.

3. Texting while driving. Although talking while driving is risky in and of itself, there is another cell phone activity that has been proven even more deadly. Specifically, drivers who use their cell phones to text while driving as they are likely to take their eyes off the road for as many as five seconds. When traveling at 55 mph, that’s the equivalent of covering 100 yards (which is the length of a football field) without looking at the road ahead. So much can happen in that time, including another vehicle crossing your path, a bicyclist swerving into your lane or your car drifting into another lane with tragic consequences following.

4. Youth are at a greater risk, but parental behavior also matters. Young people are much more likely to embrace modern technologies than other demographic groups. While this technological edge for young people supplies them with a distinct advantage in life, it also means that they are more likely to engage in distracted driving with these very same technologies. At the same time, research has shown that parents who engage in distracted driving are more likely to have teens that do the same. Further, teens send or receive text messages while driving 26 times more than the rate that their parents think that they do. Therefore, parents, you should set the example so that your teen driver picks up only your good distraction-free driving habits.

5. Know your local laws. Every state, territory, and district sets its own driving laws. Likely, you are very familiar with your state’s laws, especially if you recently took your driver’s test. But those laws vary from state to state with differing degrees of penalties assessed, depending on your age and your activities while driving. For instance, in Colorado, there is a ban on all cell phone use while driving for novice drivers, described as individuals under the age of 18. In New York, that ban extends to all drivers. Moreover, you are not allowed to text while driving in New York. In most states, these restrictions are considered a “primary law.” This means a police officer can pull you over and issue you a ticket for that violation alone. A ticket means a fine, a court appearance, points on your driving record and higher insurance costs.

Distracted Driving Essentials

Even where permitted, research shows that a cognitive distraction takes place whenever a driver engages in a phone conversation while behind the wheel. This includes hands-free phone conversations where the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel and his eyes are on the road. In this example, you are susceptible to missing important visual and audio cues that can help you avoid an accident.

So, how best to handle distracted driving? Simply by avoiding behaviors that can lead to an accident.

For example, if you receive a phone call while driving, do not answer it until you are safely off the road, preferably in a parking lot, at a rest stop or on the shoulder of the highway, if allowed by law. No call is that important where you put yourself, other drivers and pedestrians at risk. You can always allow messages to go to voice mail before finding a safe place to stop and turn off your car before calling or texting that person back. Distracted driving is a killer — avoid adding to these sad statistics.

Notes

Distraction.gov: Facts and Statistics — http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html

Virginia Tech: Distracted Driving and Risk of Road Crashes Among Novice and Experienced Drivers — https://www.vtti.vt.edu/PDFs/ndrs-2014/Klauer-2014.pdf

University of Michigan Transportation Safety Institute: http://www.umtri.umich.edu/?id=3197

See Also — Child Heatstroke Dangers and Your Car

Photo attribution: Pixabay (StockSnap).