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Spare Tires for Trucks How They Work Buying Tips and More
Imagine cruising down the highway in your truck, hauling a heavy load, when suddenly—thump! A tire blows out! You could be miles away from the nearest service station, stranded on the side of the road. What might just get you out of that particular roadside nightmare? A spare tire.
For truckers, a spare is not merely a backup-just-in-case; it's practically a lifeline. Whether slogging over rough terrain, across desolate highways or simply at the whims of inclement weather, having a decent spare tire can mean the difference between timely delivery and stranded misery, waiting for roadside assistance to arrive. Truck tires take a tremendous amount of punishment, and no matter how well a driver maintains their tires, the unexpected can occur at any time. That's why every prepared truck driver knows the value of a good spare.
On that note, Amigo Tyres—trusted for the best truck wheels in Rocklea—has listed a comprehensive guide that explains everything about spare tyres. Let's read on!
Let's first understand the different type of Spare Tires:
Types of Spare Tires
Full-size spare tyres: Full-size spares are similar to the truck's original tyres and give the best performance when used as a replacement. These are heavy and bulky, but are highly reliable for long-distance driving or in case of heavy-load driving.
Temporary spare tires: These are small, lightweight tires that are used temporarily until a full-sized replacement is available. Still, they aren't that common in trucks because heavy-duty vehicles usually require weight-based load requirements.
Why Are Spare Tires Essential for Trucks?
The spare tire sometimes serves as a lifesaver, particularly for truck drivers who drive long distances or carry heavy cargo. Here are some of those many reasons why spare tires are essential to trucks:
Safety: A flat or damaged tire puts the driver and cargo at risk. Therefore, having a spare in advance will ensure timely replacement and reduce the chances of an accident or being stranded in insecure locations.
Reduce Downtime: To truckers, time is money. While delays caused by tire problems do have wider repercussions, including lost deliveries, bad schedules, and even reduced profits, a spare gets you back on the road with minimal delay.
Cost-effective: Being stranded on the road most often means calling roadside assistance, which can be quite expensive. Having a spare tire saves you from such additional costs.
How to Choose the Right Spare Tire for Your Truck?
In buying a spare tire for your truck, there are important things that you should pay attention to to get the right one. Here is a checklist of what you need to look at.
Tire size
The size of your spare tire should be precisely the size of your truck's tires. Trucks come in different wheel sizes, meaning you will have to choose a spare in order to fit your tire size. You can check your tire size on your sidewall, where the number comprises width, aspect ratio, and diameter.
Load Capacity
Trucks, especially commercial ones, carry heavy loads sometimes. Your spare tire should match the load rating of the regular tires. A low-load-capacity tire will wear out quickly and may be unsafe.
Tread Design
This spare tire tread design should be similar to those of your other tires. Tires with dissimilar design patterns wear unevenly and have poor road performance, not to mention disastrous traction. Many truckers prefer to purchase a spare with an all-terrain or highway tread design, whichever type of roads they most use.
Tire Brand and Quality
Not all quality spare tires are the same. You have to invest in a brand that gives good quality and toughness to their tires. Well-known manufacturers provide you with a warranty for your tires, and such brands will hopefully provide you with reliable spare tires for your heavy-duty trucks.
Storage Options
Since most truck spare tires are full-sized, you should consider where you will be storing them. Most trucks come with spare tire storage, but some trucks will force you to mount it on the outside of the truck itself. Make sure that your truck has ample room inside to store the spare inside and not take up any precious cargo space.
Buying Tips for Truck Spare Tires
Things to Consider When Finding a Spare Tire for Your Truck
Buy a New Tire
The temptation may be there to save a few bucks by buying a used tire, but generally speaking, a new tire is the better option. New tires come with warranties and have no wear and tear, so, in essence, they are more reliable.
Age
Yes, even the spare tire ages with time, even without seeing any real use. Tires have only a limited life-span of 6 to 10 years alone, regardless if it has seen very little use. When buying a spare, just take a peek on the sidewall for the manufacture date to be sure the tire isn't too old.
Balance Your Tires
Once you purchase a spare, make sure to have it properly balanced. Improper balancing leads to worn-out areas of the tire, increased fuel consumption, and will even damage your truck's suspension.
Keep it Serviced
Like your regular tires, your spare needs maintenance: It needs to be adequately inflated, it needs to be checked for wear or damage, and it needs to be rotated with the other tires on a regular basis, when possible. All this ensures that when you need to deploy the spare, it's ready for action.
When to Replace Your Spare Tire
Mechanics at Amigo Tyres, Rocklea believe that your spare tire has no immunity to wear and aging. Therefore, it is essential to know when a replacement is needed. Here are some signs that may mean the need to have a new extra tire:
Sidewall Cracks: Heat, cold, and sunlight can crack the rubber of the tire even if it is seldom used.
Brittleness: Gradually, tires become less flexible and start to become brittle; thus, very susceptible to punctures.
Worn-out tread: If your spare has been used, and the depth is too shallow, it's time for replacement.
Emergency Tips for Using a Spare Tire
If you ever come across tyre trouble on the highway and needed to pull out a spare tire, here are a few emergency tips and ideas you should be aware of:
Pull over to a safe location: If there is a tire blowout or puncture, you should immediately move into a no-traffic area and change your tire.
Use the right equipment: Always have a heavy-duty jack and lug wrench capable of sustaining the weight of your truck. You will always need these two to change your tires.
Drive carefully: In case you start on a spare tire, especially the temporary kind of tire, do some moderate driving until you reach a service station. Avoid high speeds and heavy loads to reduce stress on the spare tire.
Spare Tires for Trucks Endnotes
Spare tires are essential for keeping trucks on the road in case of emergencies. By choosing the right spare tire, maintaining it properly, and knowing when to replace it, truck drivers can avoid unnecessary delays and expenses. Always invest in a high-quality spare and make sure it’s ready to go when you need it most!
Still got any queries to ask? Contact us today to have them answered by our tyre experts!
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