Most drivers today grew up with a full-sized spare tire in the trunk of the car, ready in case of a flat while on the road. However, more modern vehicles have begun to carry donut tires, which are smaller, temporary tires only meant to get you to the repair station. Some select modern vehicles, however, now only have what’s called a tire mobility kit.
But is maintaining a tire mobility kit worth it, or should you return to the trusty spare tire?
Once every few years, you’ll be reminded that this kit exists by a light on your dashboard, demanding you “Service Tire Mobility Kit.” It means that the kit is scheduled for some maintenance. The kit usually needs a new batch of sealant because the old one has expired. You can typically visit your dealer to buy a new batch and reset the service tire mobility kit alert according to the instructions in your vehicle manual.
A tire mobility kit, which is also known as a tire inflator or tire repair kit, is a set of tools and materials that can help you patch a bad tire well enough to make it to a tire mechanic or other professional garage. Depending on the manufacturer, the contents of the kit differ. For Ford vehicles, you’ll typically find the kit contains an air compressor attached to a hose and a bottle of thick sealant. Hyundai tire mobility kits, on the other hand, have a similar bottle of sealant, a filling hose, connectors, a cable, a compressor, and a pressure gauge.
Compared to a small-sized spare tire, the tire mobility kit has its advantages and drawbacks.
It’s much easier to use a tire mobility kit to patch a tire than it is to replace the blown tire with a spare. You won’t even need to jack up the vehicle. Simply park it on level ground away from moving traffic. The kit is also smaller and more compact than even a small-sized spare tire. It’s easier to store and bring around, and you can bring the kit with you in different vehicles.
Tire mobility kits have a shelf life of around four years before you need to replace the sealant. In comparison, a spare tire can last up to 10 years with seasonal checks and adjustments to its tire pressure. That’s more than double the lifetime of a tire mobility kit.
Another drawback is that not all tire problems can be fixed with a mobility kit alone. If the tire is punctured and the hole is larger than a pencil eraser, the kit’s sealant won’t be able to patch it well enough for you to use the tire. The same goes for damage on the tire’s sidewall.
If you have a nail in your tire and you use the mobility kit, you need to go to a tire repair shop right away. The kit only serves to keep you from having to call a tow truck. With a spare tire, you can at least drive on it for a bit, albeit at lower speeds than you’re probably used to driving. You’re not supposed to drive on the freeway with a spare tire due to your lower speed limit, but you can at least drive to a nearby repair shop to have the tire replaced.
Another drawback is if you have a nail in your tire and you use the mobility kit, you’ll need to go to a tire repair shop right away. This only keeps you from having to call a tow truck. If you have a spare tire, you can at least drive on it for a bit. You just have to keep your speed lower than you are probably used to driving.
–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
A tire that’s been patched by a mobility kit should be brought to a tire repair shop as soon as possible. The mobility kit is meant to serve as a temporary fix. You aren’t meant to keep driving on a patched tire. If the tire’s pressure is below 29 pounds per square inch (PSI), you shouldn’t drive on it at all. Keep to a low speed between 12 and 50 miles per hour (mph), and if any unusual noises, vibrations, or disturbances occur, pull over and call for roadside assistance.
Tire mobility kits are, without a doubt, convenient kits to have in your vehicle. But given their drawbacks, you might want to ditch the mobility kit altogether and get a spare tire instead. Spare tires are much more reliable, and you can pick up a tire patching kit for smaller patches.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.