Some Automakers are replacing spare tires with EMDs.

Press Release Summary:



According to TIA, some manufacturers are replacing spare tires with Extended Mobility Devices, which will not address every flat tire situation. EMD consists of air compressor that plugs into cigarette lighter and propels liquid sealant material to seal injuries up to ¼ in. in tread area. If tire is damaged on sidewall, or if damage is larger than standard nail, EMD will be essentially useless. Thus, TIA encourages new car purchasers to check if car has spare or EMD before they need it.



Original Press Release:



When You Need Your Spare Tire, Will It Be There?



Some automakers are replacing the traditional spare tire with Extended Mobility Devices (EMD); they may not be useable in all flat tire situations; get the facts before you get a flat!

Bowie, MD - When generations of motorists have gotten a flat tire, all they had to do was look in their trunk for a spare tire. However, with automakers searching for every way possible to increase the fuel economy of their new cars and provide more interior space for passengers and cargo, when drivers go for the spare these days, they may be in for a shock. According to the Tire Industry Association (TIA), that's because some manufacturers are replacing spare tires with Extended Mobility Devices (EMD). And, these new EMDs will not address every flat tire situation; thus, TIA encourages all new car purchasers to check if their new car has a spare or EMD before they need it.

An EMD is basically an air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter. The compressor propels a liquid sealant material to seal injuries up to a quarter inch in the tread area. The theory behind the EMD is that a driver who encounters a flat can more easily remedy the situation than by having to jack up the car, remove the damaged tire, and replace it with the spare.

However, the EMD may sound better in theory than in practice. "Drivers need to be aware if their car contains an EMD before they end up in a flat tire situation," said Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training. "If the tire is damaged on the sidewall, or if the damage is larger than a standard nail, the EMD will be essentially useless. And, if you're on a desolate stretch of road in the middle of the night, the only solution will probably involve a tow truck."

Additionally, drivers who use an EMD on a damaged tire may be in for a shock when they try to get it repaired - the shop may refuse to repair it. According to Rohlwing, "some sealant materials contain petroleum products that damage the tire, so tire repair technicians must make sure that any trace of the compound is removed before repairing the tire, which may result in additional charges. And, many tire dealers may refuse to repair a tire that has been exposed to sealant because the exposure voids the new tire warranty."

For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.

TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, including those that manufacture, repair, recycle, sell, service or use new or retreaded tires, and also those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has a history that spans more than 80 years and includes several name changes. Originally known as the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA), the organization gave birth over the years to the American Retreaders Association (ARA) and the Tire Association of North America (TANA). ARA changed its name to the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) and merged with TANA in 2002 to form the current Tire Industry Association (TIA), which now represents every interest in the tire industry.

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