Vehicle safety
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Inspect the date code on your spare tire to verify it has not expired, since aged tires can deteriorate and pose risks.
Tires have expiration dates and may dry rot or degrade after years of sitting, making them unsafe to use.
3 people, independently
- Replace spare tires older than five years due to rubber degradation.1
Check your spare tire pressure regularly, such as monthly or before trips, to ensure it is properly inflated.
Spare tires lose air over time even if never used, and finding a flat spare when you already have a flat tire is inconvenient.
27 people, independently
Install new tires on the rear axle, even if the vehicle is front-wheel drive.
If the front wheels grip but the rear end hydroplanes or slips in rain or snow, you can lose control and spin out.
one person who lived it
Keep a portable 12V air compressor in your vehicle to inflate tires independently.
It avoids reliance on gas station compressors.
- Test the device before relying on it; some cheap units may overheat or break.
2 people, independently
- Keep a portable tire inflator in your vehicle to easily adjust tire pressure without seeking external air sources.4
Install valve stem caps that indicate pressure visually for quick checks.
A quick glance tells you if the pressure is correct.
one person who lived it
Store a foot-operated floor pump in your vehicle for backup tire inflation.
It requires a few minutes, but allows you to inflate even very flat tires.
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Periodically lower, remove, and reinstall an externally mounted spare tire.
The mechanism tends to rust and seize under the vehicle, rendering the spare unusable.
- This applies to spares stored outside under the vehicle; those in the hatchback do not rust in place.
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Use the jack to loosen lug nuts instead of jumping on the wrench.
Jumping on the wrench risks trouble.
one person who lived it
Keep a portable pump in your vehicle.
It allows you to cope with slow punctures or inflate a flat spare if needed.
one person who lived it
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Learn basic vehicle maintenance skills.
Waiting for someone else to repair your tire is not money well spent.
one person who lived it
Check the valve stem condition before attempting to inflate a tire.
Valve stems can rip out during inflation, leaving you stranded on the side of the highway.
one person who lived it
check spares mounted underneath vehicles at least once a month for physical damage from debris
they take a real beating
one person who lived it
Test your tire pressure gauge against a known accurate gauge, as cheap pencil-style gauges often read lower than actual pressure.
Cheap gauges may consistently under-report pressure by several PSI.
one person who lived it
Keep lug nuts clean and free of rust so they can be removed easily during a tire change.
Rusted threads from road salt can make removal difficult or impossible without heavy tools.
one person who lived it
Apply anti-seize compound between dual rear wheels to prevent them from fusing together.
Without it, the wheels can fuse to the hub, making them impossible to remove.
one person who lived it
Ensure all necessary tools for lowering the spare tire are present and not discarded by mistake.
Tools like the lowering bar might be mistaken for junk and thrown out.
one person who lived it
Buy a long, true rubber hose to make filling tires easier.
True rubber hoses are way more flexible, which makes life much easier.
one person who lived it
If the tire pressure sensor light is on but all main tires are properly inflated, check the spare tire pressure.
A low spare tire is likely triggering the warning.
3 people, independently
- Be aware that some vehicles have tire pressure sensors in the spare tire.2
Avoid paying for nitrogen-filled tires as a premium service; regular air is enough.
Regular air is already about 78% nitrogen, so paying for 20% more nitrogen is not worth it.
2 people, independently
Be aware that some new vehicles do not come with spare tires, relying instead on repair kits or run-flat tires.
- Repair kits may be useless for certain types of punctures.
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Use a personal digital tire gauge instead of gas station gauges.
Gas station gauges are often inaccurate.
2 people, independently
Be aware that some vehicles have complex spare tire lowering mechanisms that may require assembling multiple parts.
Some designs require putting together pieces and threading them through small holes.
one person who lived it
Inspect tires for rubber breakdown even if they have not been used recently.
Rubber degrades over time regardless of usage.
one person who lived it
Set a phone reminder to check tire pressure when arriving at a gas station.
Correcting low pressure improved vehicle responsiveness and driving feel.
one person who lived it
keep an analog dial tire gauge in your vehicle rather than relying solely on digital gauges or TPMS
digital gauges may run out of batteries and TPMS may not read in colder weather
2 people, independently
Avoid under-inflated tires as they build excessive heat leading to failure.
Under-inflation causes heat buildup to the point of structural failure.
one person who lived it
Ensure the digital dashboard display matches the actual tire pressure when selling a car.
Setting pressures to spec when cold ensures the dash displays them correctly.
one person who lived it
use an air compressor to fill tires instead of trying to blow them up with your mouth
one person who lived it
If a station requires a purchase for air, put a minimal amount of gas on your card to qualify.
one person who lived it
Subscribe to roadside assistance through insurance if you cannot easily access or remove your spare tire.
one person who lived it
Choose a portable air compressor that allows you to preset the desired pressure and stops automatically.
Great convenience.
one person who lived it
Avoid over-inflating tires to prevent reduced traction and uneven wear.
Over-inflation causes uneven wear and reduces traction.
one person who lived it