Tip: Taking a road trip? Check your trunk before you go. Do you have a spare tire or something else?

Taking a road trip?  Check your trunk.  Be prepared if you get a flat tire.

I have owned many microwaves over the years.  Some of been small and others have been the size you put over your stove.  All have had timers.  We are doing some remodeling of our kitchen.  I purchased a new microwave to go with the rest of our appliances.   It isn’t the highest model of the manufacturer’s line but it is one from a well-known  higher end brand.  We did not use the microwave for nearly a week or so since other work was being done in the kitchen.   Finally, I was making dinner one night and could not find the timer on the microwave.  I never, ever would have thought to look for this amenity since it has been standard on every single microwave I ever bought, even on the real cheap mini ones.  It’s too late to return it so I will just have to use Alexa or the timer on my stove.

I’ve mentioned it to several friends when they’ve asked about how the kitchen project was going.   One friend said, “I’ve got a better one!  I had a flat a few weeks ago only to find I had no spare in the trunk.   I never thought to look.”  She has an Audi but I am not sure which model.   Another friend I mentioned this to told me her son purchased a pre-owned Tesla (again I am not sure which model) and was on a road trip with his family in the middle of nowhere when the car got a flat and again no spare.  They had to wait nearly four hours for relief.   Still another friend told me her husband had a flat while driving his minivan.  The car had a “donut” spare. (A donut spare is a smaller tire meant to get you several miles to where you can get help.  They aren’t meant to be a permanent replacement for long distance driving.) Because he travels a lot, he went out and bought a full sized tire so he would be prepared to change the tire if he were in the middle of nowhere and had to drive many miles back to civilization.

Motor and Wheels reports that about 30 percent of all new cars don’t have a spare tire.  The reason can be because the car manufacturer has provided run-flat tires on new cars or has included a tire inflator and repair kit. Some new cars have self-sealing tires which help prevent flats.  Manufacturers have taken a pass on traditional spare tires or even donut spares to improve mileage and/or trunk space.

Still, it can be quite a surprise to find out that you don’t have an available spare.  A patch kit and inflator might work well if you have a nail or other type of puncture in your tire.  But it won’t help with a blowout.  The donut tire is meant to be a temporary solution for tire punctures or blowouts.   Most SUVs and trucks still do carry full replacement spare tires.

Check here to find out what makes and models of cars have spare tires or alternate flat tire repair solutions available.  

Bottom line.   Before you leave on your road trip, take a look in your truck to see if you have a spare tire.   If not, take a look at your car manufacturer’s guide to check what solutions are provided in the event you get a spare tire. Make sure you have the repair kit in your vehicle and know how to use it. It’s better not to be surprised if you should get a flat tire.  

Enjoy the road!