Can a car be without a spare tire? What can be removed to reduce the weight of the car?

Long-term overweight and overloaded driving of a car will cause great wear and tear on the tires, especially for people who travel long distances, the lighter the better. So, in order to save weight, can we not carry a spare tire? What can we do without in order to reduce the weight of a car?

Can a car be without a spare tire?

A spare tire is a must for a car. Giving up the spare tire in order to save weight is putting the cart before the horse.

For a car, the tire is the only part that comes into direct contact with the ground, wears the fastest, and is most susceptible to damage from external impacts. However, road conditions are extremely complex, and no one can predict or guarantee the cleanliness and safety of the road, so tire accidents are possible at any time.

Especially for vehicles that do not support run-flat tires, it is recommended to keep a spare tire and be sure to bring a jack, especially for long-distance travel.

Most of the spare tires used in production vehicles are non-full-size iron wheel spare tires, which are only about 10 pounds. Full-size spare tires may be relatively heavier, but at most 30 pounds. This weight can be reduced by other aspects of the vehicle. There is no need to give up such a practical thing as a spare tire.

What can be removed to reduce the weight of a car?

1. Replace forged wheels. This type of wheel is formed in one piece, has the highest strength, and is very light. It is a high-end wheel, but it is very expensive.

2. Replace lightweight perforated brake discs and brake pads. Conventional brake discs are made of cast iron and are relatively heavy. Enthusiastic players can choose ceramic composite brake discs and brake pads, which can greatly reduce the weight of the vehicle without losing braking performance.

3. The vehicle's shock absorption system, which is also the most direct way to reduce weight.

How to maintain the spare tire

Regular testing

Especially when traveling long distances, be sure to check carefully.

The main purpose is to check the tire pressure, wear and cracks. Before the tire line is worn to the wear mark line, the tire should be replaced as soon as possible. If there are small cracks on the side of the tire, it is easy to explode at high speed due to the thin sidewall of the tire, so it cannot be used for long-distance or high-speed driving.

Spare tires should be replaced if they are more than 4 years old

Tires are rubber products that will age if stored for too long. Generally, the life of a tire is about 4 years. If it exceeds that, it will age. For driving safety, the spare tire should be replaced after 4 years.

Avoid contact with oil

The main component of tires is rubber, which is most afraid of being corroded by various oils. Once the tires come into contact with oil, they will cause the tires to swell and wear, reducing their service life.

If contact occurs accidentally, wash it with a neutral detergent as soon as possible.

Not recommended for long-term use

It is used relatively infrequently and has a different friction coefficient from other tires. If used for a long time, it will have a certain impact on the vehicle's braking system, steering system and suspension system, posing a hidden danger to driving safety, and will also cause uneven friction on other tires in the same direction.