If your tire goes flat or you run out of gas, roadside assistance can get you back on your way. But it’s important to prepare ahead of time.
Move your car off the road and turn on the hazard lights. Then, keep these essentials in your emergency kit: Click the Emergency Roadside to learn more.
A flat tire can ruin the fun of a road trip. However, with a little planning and preparation, it’s easy to deal with a flat. Having a spare tire on hand is important so you can get to your destination or back home in an emergency. A spare tire also helps you save time and money by avoiding expensive tow truck fees.
Many car manufacturers are excluding spare tires from new vehicles to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency. This trend has led to the rise of space-saving tires, known as doughnuts or compact spares. These tires are much smaller than a full-sized spare tire and can only be used to drive at low speeds to reach a service station.
Having a spare tire in your vehicle’s trunk is critical for emergencies. The best way to store the tire is in a special cradle underneath the rear of your vehicle, which allows you to keep it secure while still having access to the other tools needed for a flat tire fix, such as a jack and lug wrench. You should always keep your spare tire in good condition and check its physical condition as well as its inflation pressure monthly. It’s also a good idea to practice changing the tire in a safe place before you ever need to use it.
If you prefer not to carry a spare tire or have limited storage space, there are some other options available. Many auto insurance companies offer roadside assistance, which can help with tire changes if necessary. Some of these programs even include free towing or replacement services.
Another option is a portable tire inflator. You can find these at most automotive retailers and some hardware stores. However, this is a last resort solution as it may damage your tire pressure sensor and make the tire unrepairable in the future. If you do decide to go with a portable tire inflator, it’s a good idea to store it away from any sharp objects or items that could puncture the seal.
Jumper Cables
A dead battery is one of the most common problems on the road, but you can save yourself a tow bill by keeping jumper cables in your trunk and knowing how to use them. Jumper cables work in conjunction with another vehicle and battery booster to get your car started. While it’s easy enough to find and buy a set of jumper cables, it takes a bit more knowledge to know how to use them properly.
Start by identifying the positive and negative terminals on both batteries. The positive terminal usually has a “+” sign on it and is larger than the negative terminal. Connect the red clamp of one cable to the positive terminal of the working vehicle’s battery and the other end of the same cable to the positive terminal on the dead vehicle’s battery. Connect the opposite black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead battery’s engine bay, such as a ground bolt or labeled post.
When connecting the jumper cables, make sure they don’t touch each other as this can cause sparking that could damage both vehicles and possibly injure you. You should also keep moving parts and other metal objects away from the cables. Once the cars are connected, start the working vehicle and let it run for a few minutes. This allows the disabled battery to catch up on its charge and gives you a chance to jiggle each of the cable ends to ensure a solid connection.
You should always wear gloves when handling the jumper cables to avoid electrical shock or corrosion. Gloves also protect your hands from dirt and grime as you reach under the hood of both vehicles. Once the cars are ready to be separated, jiggle each cable end and remove them in reverse order of how they were attached. If the dead vehicle still doesn’t start, turn off the engine and re-connect the jumper cables. Repeat the process if necessary. Then, let the dead vehicle idle for 5-10 minutes to give it time to recharge its battery. Once the dead battery is charged, remove the black jumper cable and reconnect the red one.
Mechanic Gloves
As you work to make repairs on your car, it’s important to have the right tools. That includes a pair of mechanic gloves. These gloves will allow you to handle jumper cables, wrenches, and a car jack safely. They will also help you grip items better and protect your hands from burns, cuts, and scratches.
There are many types of mechanic gloves on the market, and the best type for you will depend on the kind of job you’re doing. Mechanic gloves can be disposable or reusable, and they come in various thicknesses and fits. The thicker the glove, the more protection it will offer. However, it’s important to remember that a thick glove may impair your ability to feel things with your fingers and can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Medical and EMS personnel often need to deal with bloodborne pathogens and other hazardous chemicals. They must be able to quickly assess the situation and perform their jobs with precision. Thankfully, there are high-quality medical gloves that can provide both the barrier protection and tactile sensitivity needed for such situations. The best choice for such professionals is a medical exam-grade nitrile glove that’s designed to be puncture- and tear-resistant.
Mechanics, on the other hand, often need a bit more flexibility to get the job done. That’s why many of the best mechanic gloves are designed to balance safety with flexibility. Some have kevlar thumb patches to protect against sharp objects, and others are made of materials that provide good stretch to let you move freely as you make your repairs.
While truckers are not likely to be dealing with any emergency roadside situations, they still need a good pair of mechanics’ gloves. Their CDL driving jobs can involve steering the vehicle for 10 hours or more at a time, and that can lead to a sweaty palm, which can cause them to lose their grip on the wheel. Fortunately, trucking gloves can be purchased that are made of a latex-free material and are powder-free, meaning they’ll fit tightly on the hands without causing discomfort or irritation. They’re also nitrile-resistant to resist the chemicals and oils that might be encountered on the job.
Tire Patch Kit
There are a million things that can go wrong when you’re driving, especially on long trips. Having an emergency roadside kit is key to staying safe behind the wheel. You can purchase pre-made kits at auto parts stores and online, but it’s also relatively inexpensive to build your own. A tire patch kit is a great addition to your emergency roadside kit and can save you from having to wait for roadside assistance when you get a flat tire.
This tire patch kit comes with everything you need to fix a punctured tire quickly and easily. It includes a tire pressure gauge to check your air levels, a hose to inflate the tire, pliers to remove whatever punctured the tire, and a plug insertion tool to seal the hole and prevent it from leaking further.
The kit includes a few different types of tire plugs, each designed to fit a specific size hole. There’s a small plug for narrow tires, a medium one for most cars and trucks, and a large one for larger wheels and truck tires. The kit also comes with a tire repair glue, which will help seal the leak and keep it from coming back again.
Another handy addition to your tire patch kit is a t-handle spiral probe tool and some lubricant to help you ream out the hole and clean out any dirt and debris that could cause the puncture. There’s also a tire plugger and a few extra plugs just in case you need to repair more than one punctured tire.
You can also find a kit that’s compatible with your car or truck’s TPMS system to ensure it doesn’t damage the sensor inside the wheel when you use it. Unlike liquid tire repair, which can leak and damage the TPMS unit, this option is much less likely to cause problems.
You’ll want to store your emergency roadside items in a place where they’re easy to access. A trunk or glove compartment is usually a good location, but you can also use a bag or box specifically designed for the purpose. Regardless of how you store them, make sure they’re easy to access and that you know how to use each item.