How to Check Your Spare Tyre (Before You Need It)
Spares fail their one job more often than any other part — because nobody looks. A Cranbourne West specialist explains.
The five-minute check
Find it (boot floor, under the rear on utes/SUVs — on a winch that seizes if never used), check its pressure (spares lose air over years; space-savers often need 60 psi, printed on their sidewall), its age and condition, and that the jack, brace and the locking wheel nut key are actually in the car.
Under-slung spares on utes deserve special attention — the winch mechanisms rust solid, discovered only at night in the rain.
Know your spare’s rules
Space-savers are limited (usually 80 km/h and short distances — check the sticker); many modern cars carry only an inflator kit, which cannot fix a sidewall or shredded tyre. Whatever you have, its condition is part of every service with us.
And after any spare goes on: proper tyre repaired and refitted promptly, wheel nuts re-torqued.
We’ll take care of it
Prefer to leave it to a specialist? We look after all of this as part of a service or a quick check — with honest advice on what your car actually needs, not what sells.
Book online in 60 seconds or call a Cranbourne West specialist on 03 8782 0711.
How to Check Your Spare Tyre (Before You Need It) — FAQ
Check its sidewall — space-savers commonly need ~60 psi, far higher than road tyres, and they leak down over years.
Under-body winches rust seized — the spare is fine but unreachable. Cycle it occasionally.
Sidewall damage or a shredded tyre — it’s for simple tread punctures only.
The adapter for your locking wheel nuts — without it in the car, no one changes that wheel roadside.
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