The "Do You Have A Spare?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just lifted the cover from where my spare tire should be in the rear of my 2019 Honda CRV.  I had never checked that feature after we got the car about a half-year ago.  Yesterday I got magazine mailer from American Automobile Association and when I opened it I read the headline that said....."Spare Me".  Every few months AAA sends a mailing with automobile information as well as trips you can take through their travel agency.  After 38 years of being a member I still learn something with each mailing I receive.  As far as the "Spare Me" article is concerned, it was asking if I know if I have a spare tire in my car.  Seems that many automobile manufacturers no longer put a spare tire, not even one of the miniature tires that were introduced years ago, in the trunk or storage area of cars in order to lighten the car and in return get better gas milage.  Seems that those cars that no longer have a spare tire are creating a nuisance for their owners. Some are having to have their cars towed to a garage before they can have the flat fixed.  And, AAA is having to pay for the tow to the garage rather than to have to pay to just have the tire changed on site.  

Changing a tire.

Years ago I had a Mazda Protegé and that car had the small replace- ment tire so I could change the flat tire with the small tire and then replace my repaired tire later.  Do you know how to change a tire on your car?  20% of people driving a car don't!  And if you do, would you rather call for help, if you belong to a service such as AAA, and have them come and change it.  I don't mind changing the tire myself, but I'd prefer to have a full-sized tire as a spare so I don't have to worry about putting the repaired tire back on the car immediately, since the small spare tires are only supposed to be driven at a low speed.  If you don't have a spare you may have a repair kit that many manufactures include instead of a spare tire.  But, in 2015 AAA found that tire-inflator kits have limited functionality and cannot provide even a temporary fix for many tire-related problems, including sidewall damage or blowouts.  Plus, the kits can cost up to ten times more than a tire repair as well as having a shelf life of only four to eight years.  You buy a used car and that inflator kit may not work at all.  AAA urges all drivers to check their vehicle's equipment that comes with their car, especially the spare tire compartment.  Well, I lifted the cover from my spare tire compartment and there it was, a full sized new tire.  Only thing different that my regular tire was the fact that it was on a steel tire rim and not the really neat rims that came with the car.  At least I now know about my spare, but can still call AAA to come and change it if the weather is bad or I am dressed in my fancy-schmancy clothes.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.