Introduction:
Because cars have been downsized in recent years, space and weight have become major concerns for vehicle manufacturers. For this reason, many car manufacturers have marketed cars with compact spare tires to save weight and space.
Compact, high-pressure, minispare tire:
The space-saver spare tire must be inflated with a special compressor. Battery voltage is supplied to the compressor from the cigarette lighter. This type of compact spare should be inflated to 35 psi (240 kPa). After the tire is inflated, be sure there are no folds in the sidewalls.
The lightweight-skin spare tire is a bias-ply tire with a reduced tread depth to provide an estimated 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of tread life. This type of spare tire is also designed for emergency use only, and driving speed must be limited to 50 mph (80 km/h) when this tire is installed on a vehicle. Always inflate the lightweight-skin spare tire to the pressure specified on the tire placard.