Is a spare tire really necessary?

If you take a lot of road trips, routinely drive in places with long distances between service stations, or travel a lot on rougher roads, you need a spare tire. Getting a flat in rural areas means you could be a hundred miles or more to the nearest repair shop.

Why do trucks have one pair of tires hanging in the air?

Because they are empty. There are legal limits to how much weight can be put on the road per axle. Also, each axle requires springs that can carry the full loaded weight and still allow the wheels to rise and fall to keep contact with the road.

What are the extra tires on trucks for?

Those tires are part of what’s called a “lift axle” and they have what you might call a part-time job. The driver can push a button on the dashboard that lowers to the ground the tires and the lift axle (the metal rod that joins the tires). The lift axle helps spread the weight of an especially heavy load.

Where do most trucks have their spare tire?

Modern pickup trucks share virtually no parts with automobiles, whose spare tires are usually stowed in the trunk. To avoid wasting valuable cargo space by stowing the spare tire in the pickup truck bed, manufacturers mount the spare underneath the bed at the rear of the pickup truck.

What happens if you don’t have a spare tire?

Buy a new or used wheel and tire To get a spare tire for your vehicle, check with the dealership that sold you the car. You can often get another full-size wheel to keep on hand. Expect it to cost you, though, because you will need one to match the same brand and style of tire that’s already on the car.

Why do American dump trucks have extra wheels?

The simplest explanation is that the more axles a truck has, the more weight it can carry. Plus, of course, more tires in use means more tires to replace, and big truck tires aren’t cheap. Hence why some heavy load-hauling trucks have what are known as “drop axles,” which are exactly what they sound like.

Why do they call a spare tire a donut?

A full sized spare tire is not called a donut. Just because the early spares used to be the same size as the rest of the wheels, and then they came out with the space saver spares on some cars, so the smaller sized tires and rims, with the same lug nut hole spacing, were dubbed the donut nickname.

Does a tractor trailer have to have a spare tire?

So, in California, your tire must be secured to prevent the tire from coming loose – and don’t carry your spare tire on your tractor unless it is in a carrier or a space designed to carry tires. The blown tire should have been replaced with a spare as soon as the driver discovered it.

Why do some cars have spare tires on them?

These narrow, compact spares are designed to save space and weight in the vehicle, allowing the manufacturers to build a smaller car. However, the tire itself is not built to last.

What is a full-size spare tire?

If you bought a truck, SUV, or another large vehicle, your car probably is equipped with a full-size spare. While a full-size spare is heavier and requires a larger space for storage, these tires are more durable and can handle a drive similar to a regular tire.

Which cars have spare tires in America?

The truth is, nearly every top-selling model of vehicle in America offers a trim with a spare tire. The Ford F-150, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Civic all top their categories, and all of the top-selling trims have a spare tire included. We counted nine Honda Civic trims with a spare.

What to do with a spare tire after you replace it?

Once the old tire is off your car and safely stowed in the trunk, you’re left with a spare tire to get your vehicle safely to the nearest auto repair shop.

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