Posted on 12/19/2025
Most people forget about their spare tire until the worst possible moment: you open the trunk, lift the cover, and find a flat, dry rotted donut staring back at you. The spare feels like a safety net, but it only helps if it is ready to do its job when you really need it. Where Your Spare Tire Hides And What Type You Have Before you can trust your spare, you need to know where it lives and what kind it is. Depending on your vehicle, the spare might be: Full size wheel in the trunk or under the cargo floor Compact “donut” spare with a smaller tread and rim Underslung wheel on a cable hoist under the rear of the vehicle Some newer vehicles do not have a true spare at all. They carry a sealant kit and an air pump instead. It is worth checking yours now, before a roadside emergency, so you know whether you have a real spare, a temporary one, or a repair kit that has its own limits. How Age And Storage Quietly Kill Spare Tires Spare tires ... read more