Forgotten stock
Tire failure is quite rare, so the spare tire becomes a forgotten part of the car.
The failure of a car wheel always occurs at the most inopportune moment: when it is cold, dark, raining or snowing, we are in a hurry or put on a formal dress.
The spare tire must be inflated in order for it to work. So you need to control the pressure in the reserve, and to be sure, it’s also good to replace the valve valve. An expense of 70 groszy will ensure the performance of the wheel for at least two years.
Changing a wheel is an operation that causes significant contamination of hands and clothing. I recommend having protective gloves (preferably waterproof) and a flashlight in the trunk, it is also good to have a work apron. Of course, you will also need a working jack and an appropriate wrench for the screws that hold the wheels to the axle. The wheels of our car are usually tightened at curing plants with a pneumatic wrench with a torque that exceeds what is necessary and required by the car manufacturer. To loosen a tightened bolt, a longer lever must be used than the wrench supplied with the vehicle. So it's good to have something in the trunk to lengthen the lever on the wheel wrench.
In vehicles in use, we can find the following spare wheel options:
1. The spare wheel is the same as the one on the axles,
2. The spare wheel has a different, most often standard, steel rim, and “light wheels” are installed on the axle,
3. The spare wheel is a so-called "advance" with a different type of rim and a narrow tire,
4. Instead of a spare wheel, the machine is equipped with a kit for urgent repair of a damaged road wheel.
5. The car is fitted with the latest generation wheels to ensure normal running with a flat tire.
In the first case, the use of a spare tire will be effective if you remember the previous remarks. In the second case, a set of standard bolts for the standard rim must be additionally packed in the trunk. Light alloy wheels are always fastened with much longer bolts, which are not suitable for threading onto a steel rim. The third case requires prudence and extreme caution. Spare wheels are designed to provide access to the nearest tire factory. Driving from the "access road" must be carried out strictly according to the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer. Therefore, it is worth remembering the corresponding chapter in the manual for your car. Excessive caution is not an exaggeration, especially in the rain or on slippery surfaces. The spare wheel also needs to be inflated.
Fortunately, the fourth case concerns a small number of car users. Requires them to know the exact way to repair the wheel, i.e. the need to carefully study the operating instructions for the vehicle. To be absolutely sure of the success of the repair, also check the expiration date of the sealant. The expiration date can lead to a drop in cylinder pressure, a significant decrease in the viscosity of the drug, or blocking its flow into the tire.
In the fifth case, you should be congratulated on the modern solution, but sympathize with the costs and difficulties associated with repairing a non-standard tire.
The upcoming moment of replacing summer tires with winter tires will be a good opportunity to check the condition of the spare tire.
