Is your spare tire ready to save the day? Inspect your spare tire regularly for proper inflation and dry rot.

You may not think about your spare tire until you get a flat, but when that time comes, is your spare up for the challenge? A spare tire that sits neglected over time may fail and leave you stranded on the roadside.

Although you may remember to check your car tires on a regular basis, don’t forget to include your full-size or compact spare tire in your maintenance schedule. Make spare tire care a habit by clearing the clutter out of your trunk and making it easy to reach your spare wheel for maintenance.

The two most common reasons for spare tire failure are underinflation and dry rot. Your spare wheel loses air slowly over time. Without proper care, your spare wheel may be flat by the time you need it. At the least, this means poor tire performance. At the worst, it means another tire failure, which could possibly damage other parts of your vehicle as well.

As your spare tire ages, it can also become susceptible to dry rot. The first and most obvious sign of dry rot is cracks in your sidewalls. Spare wheels mounted externally on your vehicle should be protected with a spare tire cover. Exposure to damage from the sun, ozone, and weather accelerates the aging process and shortens the life and usefulness of your spare tire. A cover for your spare tire will prolong the lifespan of your spare.

If you own a trailer or RV, include your spare trailer tire and spare RV tire in your maintenance routine to protect the value of these investments. You can also purchase a trailer spare tire cover and RV spare tire cover to limit damage caused by exposure to the elements.

A damaged full-size or donut spare tire can shred on your way home or to the repair shop, leaving you just as stranded as before. To reduce your risk of spare tire failure, take a few minutes every month or two to check your spare tire, inflating it as needed and checking for cracks in the sidewalls that may signal dry rot damage. 

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