Summer's Heating Up: Don't Forget to Check Your Spare

The summer road trip season is officially here. You’ve packed the cooler, queued up the perfect playlist, and double-checked your GPS. But there’s one critical safety feature you’re probably forgetting, and it’s sitting right in your trunk.

When was the last time you actually checked the air pressure in your spare tire?

If you’re like the vast majority of drivers, the answer is probably "never."

The Silent Leak: Why Spare Tires Lose Air

It’s a common misconception that tires only lose air when they have a puncture. In reality, tires are naturally permeable. Because rubber is microscopicly porous, air molecules slowly seep out over time—even if the tire is just sitting completely still in your trunk or mounted underneath your chassis.

On average, a perfectly healthy tire can lose about 1 to 2 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure every single month.

The "X-Year" Trap

Think about it this way: if you’ve owned your car for 3 to 5 years, and you’ve never touched that spare, it has been silently losing air for up to 60 months.

The Reality Check: The majority of drivers who have owned their vehicles for a few years are riding around with a spare tire that is severely underinflated.

If you get a flat on a scorching July afternoon, pulling out a spare that only has 15 PSI instead of the required 60 PSI (for most compact spares) means you are officially stranded. Driving on a severely underinflated spare is incredibly dangerous and can lead to immediate tire failure.

Beat the Heat: 3 Quick Tips for Summer Readiness

Summer heat exacerbates tire stress, making flats more common. Don't let a dead spare ruin your vacation. Before you hit the road this week, take these three quick steps:

• Pop the Trunk: Don't just look at the spare; physically check it. If you don't own a pressure gauge, any gas station will have one.

• Know the Magic Number: Compact "donut" spares usually require a much higher pressure than your standard tires—often around 60 PSI. Check the sidewall of the spare or your owner's manual for the exact number.

• Ask Your Mechanic: The next time you get your oil changed or your regular tires rotated, explicitly ask the technician to check the pressure in your spare.

A flat tire is an inconvenience, but an un-inflated spare is a preventable emergency. Take five minutes to check your trunk today so you can stay cool, safe, and moving all summer long!