In Washington, 13 percent of roadside calls are for tire related incidents and while those numbers have remained steady, the number of callers without spare tires has increased from 21 percent to 26 percent in the past five years. Well, if you drive a newer vehicle that may very well be the case.
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AAA tested the most common tire inflator kits in today’s vehicles and found that the units worked well in a few scenarios, but they are not a substitute for a spare tire.
Research from AAA, shows that automakers’ decisions to eliminate the spare tire may leave more than 30 million drivers vulnerable at the roadside. A tire inflator kit can only be used when a puncture occurs on the center tire tread and the object remains in the tire. The kit then coats the inner wall of the tire with a sealant and a compressor re-inflates the tire. AAA is calling on automakers to put consumer interests first and halt the elimination of the spare tire.
“The kits do have instructions on them, and you also can look in you owner’s manual for instructions, but we recommend doing that before you’re in a situation on the side of the roadway, so you’re not faced with trying to figure it out when you’re in an emergency situation”, Schwind said. And tire inflator kits don’t work in many circumstances. But Carlson says they don’t work on a lot of flats, leaving drivers stranded. Without a spare tire to get you back home, you’ll be stuck shelling out for a tow truck, unless you’re paying for (you guessed it) AAA or another roadside assistance program. Kits can cost as much as 10 times more than a tire patch and need replacement in as little as four years, AAA said.
John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and fix says that flat tires are not a disappearing problem, but spare tires are.
“Consumers may mistakenly believe that inflator kits are a one-size-fits-all alternative to installing a spare tire”, said Mai.
Automakers started eliminating the spare tire about ten years ago in an effort to lighten the load and improve fuel efficiency.
The decline in spare tires has been striking. That’s compared to about 10 percent of drivers between 35 and 54.
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But these aren’t good trade-offs for consumers, the AAA said. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
