Spare tire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A spare tire is an additional tire (or tyre - see spelling differences) carried in a motor vehicle as a replacement for one that goes flat, a blowout, or other emergency.
Contents |
[edit] History
The early days of motor travel took place on primitive roads that were littered with stray horseshoe nails. Punctures (flat tires) were all-too-common and required the motorist to remove the wheel from the car, demount the tire, patch the inner tube, re-mount the tire, inflate the tire, and re-mount the wheel. The first to equip cars with a spare wheel-and-tire assembly were the Ramblers made by Thomas B. Jeffery Company. The Rambler's interchangeable wheel and mounted spare tire meant the motorist could quickly exchange it for the flat one. The punctured tire could then be repaired at a more convenient time and place.
The pre-mounted spare tire and wheel combination proved so popular with motorists that carrying up to two spare tires became common. Automakers often equipped cars with one or dual sidemounts. The spares were mounted behind the front fenders as they blended into the running boards (a narrow footboard serving as a step beneath the doors).
In 1941, the U.S. government prohibited spare tires on new cars. Shortages of resources caused by World War II led to quotas and laws designed to force conservation, including rubber that was produced overseas difficult to get. A similar ban was also implemented by the U.S. during the Korean War in 1951.[1]
[edit] Today
Contemporary vehicles may come equipped with full-size spares, limited use minispares, or have run-flat capability.
- The spare tire may be identical type and size to those on the vehicle that is already mounted on a plain steel rim or a matching road wheel as found on the vehicle.
- Some automakers provide only a "limited use" spare tire, colloquially referred to as a donut, in an attempt to reduce cost, lower the vehicle's weight, and/or to save on the space that would be needed for a full-size spare tire. They are typically smaller than the normal tires on the vehicle and can only be used for limited distance because of their short life expectancy and low speed rating.
- In some cases, automobiles may be equipped with run-flat tires and thus not require a separate spare tire.
Spare tires may be mounted in numerous places depending on the type of vehicle. Most typical mounting location is in the trunk, but the engine compartment, under the floorboards, or in the cargo area may also serve as places to secure spare tires. Some vehicles, like trucks, do not have a convenient space to store the spare tire inside the vehicle, so the spare tire is kept underneath the vehicle secured to the frame. A number of anti-theft devices are available for external mount spare tires such as found on SUVs.
[edit] Spare tire well
The spare tire well is a recessed area in the trunk of a vehicle, usually in the center, where the spare tire is stored while not in use. In most cars, the spare tire is secured with a bolt and wing-nut style fastener. Usually a stiff sheet of cardboard lays on top of the spare tire well with the trunk carpet on top of it to hide the spare tire and provide a pleasant look to the trunk space. In mid-mounted and rear-mounted engine cars the spare tire is stored in the front boot and a dedicated spare tire well is seldom used.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Egan, Charles E. "Ban on Spare Tire Made Mandatory; U.S. Adopts Voluntary Action of Auto Producers--Rubber Goes to Heavier Duty" The New York Times. April 3, 1951.
[edit] External links
- Car Care Council page on "Spare Tire & Wheel", retrieved on: August 30, 2007.
- About.com - "Definition of spare tire", retrieved on: August 30, 2007.
