Tire technician explains safest practices when driving on a spare tire
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Tragedy struck Andrews County Tuesday when a head-on collision concerning a pickup truck and a van killed nine individuals.
The van was transporting a university golfing crew back to campus in Hobbs, New Mexico, killing 6 college student athletes and their coach. Investigators say a 13-12 months-aged was driving the truck the caused the crash. Equally the driver and passenger were also killed.
”It seems at this level in the investigation, that the remaining entrance tire, which was a spare tire, experienced failed which resulted in the vehicle pulling hard to the still left and crossing into the opposing lane,” National Transportation Basic safety Board Vice Chair Bruce Landsberg explained.
KBTX spoke to an specialist about how to operate a motor vehicle working with a spare. Texas Tires Tire Technician Gary Mayo states it relies upon what kind of car you are driving. He claims more compact autos like four-door sedans should only travel on a spare for the excursion to the closest tire store.
”I highly recommend ASAP getting that donut taken off that vehicle and having the manufacturing unit rim set again on with the total dimension tire,” Mayo mentioned. “Driving on it on a extensive-term foundation and striving to use that as an every day driving tire, I really don’t advise that.”
Mayo also says if the spare goes out, then motorists have nothing to slide back again on.
“If that tire goes out, then what do you received? What do you have which is going to get you off the side of the road and out of website traffic?” Mayo explained. “They’re additional costly to change way too. On a donut, you cannot just acquire the tire and have it swapped out. You actually have to acquire the total rim and tire assembly all jointly from the supplier.”
Mayo says it’s a little bit different with pickup vehicles, however. He states the spare tire for a truck tends to be a fifth comprehensive dimension tire since of the vehicle’s dimensions and pounds. But motorists can nevertheless run into hassle if the spare is not replaced and maintained together with the other four tires.
”If you have received a spare tire which is from 2008 or 2009, then which is sort of pushing it,” Mayo reported. “Generally, if a tire is 5 several years more mature or more, it’s type of previous its time frame to get adjusted.”
Experts say drivers should not be traveling higher than 50 miles per hour when utilizing a spare tire.
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