Flat Tire Warnings from Crown Hyundai St. Petersburg Service Center

Mar 7, 2013

Flat tires are never any fun. It can be especially troublesome when you are in motion and your St. Petersburg Hyundai suffers a flat or blown out tire. While not all vehicles these days come with a spare tire, also known as a donut, if you do have one you can change out tires to get you to the dealership for a tire replacement. Donuts can certainly be helpful but they are not meant to be a permanent solution.

Limitation of a Spare

Driving on a spare is not recommended. Spare tires are considerably lighter and do not have the sufficient tread to ensure a safe ride. They are only designed to travel a short distance to allow you transportation to the service center. However, many people replace the bad tire with the spare and continue to put a lot more miles on the road rather than head in for tire repair.

Spare tires on your vehicle mean you need to drive slower than you normally would. Most manufacturers recommend not exceeding more than 50-60 miles an hour on the road ways. Because the spare tire is smaller than your normal tires, your ride may not be a smooth one. You do not want to lose control driving at excessive speeds. You should only drive for tire service while a spare is on or you are at risk for additional tire problems.

Spare Tire Care

If you haven’t used your spare tire in some time, don’t forget about its care. It’s out of sight hiding space, usually in the floor of the cargo area, may mean you are not giving the spare the attention it needs. In extreme temperatures, spare tires can become damaged. They can regularly lose air pressure in cold or hot temperatures. Storage can also cause the deterioration of the tire material overtime.

It is recommended that you have your spare tire serviced whenever you have your regular tires rotated. Air pressure should be checked and the tire will need to be evaluated for bulging, holes, or other damage. If you fail to have this maintenance done on a regular basis, you risk having a bad spare tire during an emergency. This could leave you stranded in your driveway or on the highway and in need of a tow service for tire repair, an extra expense you can ultimately avoid with a quality spare tire.

Schedule your next tire rotation or replacement and ask to have your spare tire checked by our St. Petersburg Hyundai repair center technicians.