You never know when you’ll need to perform a tire change, but many new vehicles don’t come with a spare. Instead, it’s often up to drivers to decide whether to keep one in their trunk. Here are three reasons you should always have a spare on-hand.

Why You Should Always Keep a Spare Tire in Every Vehicle

1. Safety

If a tire pops while driving, you may be stranded on the side of the road for hours. Even if the street features a shoulder where you can park and turn the emergency blinker lights on, you’re still in danger from passing cars. If you’re in a rural area, a tow truck may not be able to reach you for a while, leaving you vulnerable to a potential accident. By having a spare, you’ll be able to perform a tire change or have a professional do it ASAP so you can get off the road to safety faster.

2. Seal Kits Aren’t Always an Option

Some vehicles that don’t come with spare tires feature a patch kit including an aerosol can or cartridge full of sealant. If the tire has a small hole on the tread area, spray the affected spot and let it dry before re-inflating the tire with a portable compressor and driving straight to a mechanic for a more permanent fix. However, if the issue is on the tire sidewall, this won’t work as the pressure will be too high for the temporary seal to hold.

3. Convenience

Calling roadside assistance for help with a tire change is always an option. However, if you don’t have a spare that fits your car perfectly, the rescue team may have to tow the vehicle to a shop to address the problem as they won’t necessarily have the perfect spare in their truck. This means taking more time and money to fix an issue that could have been preventing by having a spare in the vehicle.

If you need a tire change on the side of the road contact Discount Towing and Recovery in Baxter County, AR. Their reliable team offers speedy jump-starts, fuel delivery, towing, lockout assistance, car rentals, and roadside tire change services to get you back in the driver seat ASAP. Call (870) 425-1775 or visit the website for information on their emergency roadside assistance throughout the Mountain Home region.