BALTIMORE —As holiday travel season approaches, AAA estimates hundreds of Maryland drivers could be in for a nasty surprise.
Dozens of cars no longer come with a safety feature some may consider a standard feature.
Vickie Swindell creates memories by putting miles on her minivan with her 81-year-old mother and their friend, Alverta Dockins, but hitting the road takes extra time and effort, and Swindell likes to be prepared for anything.
She thought her $37,000 Chrysler van had every available safety feature when she set out on an overnight girls' trip last summer, so getting a flat tire didn't rattle her -- at first.
"We got the crank out, cranked down the cable, no spare tire," Swindell said. "I have a jack (and) a crank to crank down my spare tire that wasn't there. I have a blow-up kit."
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Actually many new cars with no spare tire are equipped with run flat tires so a spare isn't needed. Most of the German car lines are doing this.
ReplyDeleteAnother unintended consequence of automakers having to lighten vehicles, to meet efficiency standards, set by the EPA, pushed by a liberal agenda and the global warming fraud. Thankfully all my vehicles have spare tires and a tire plug kit as well, which has come in handy many many times. Run flats are great if you run over a simple nail, but anything larger or more damaging, you're going to need a spare. Or a tow. What would be cheaper, carrying a spare or paying for a tow?
ReplyDelete"are equipped with run flat tires?" I don't understand. Please explain.
ReplyDeleteFrom a real, full size spare tire, to "compact" miniature "spares" to...no spare tire at all.
ReplyDeleteConsumers need to learn how to cope, should a blowout occur eventually.
google.com can explain it all for you.
ReplyDeleteso what , maybe you want a genie to come with this and repair the tire. complain , complain , buyer beware!
ReplyDelete